In the beginning, when crystal meth started appearing in clubs for gay men and in gay circuits, the guys called the drug “Christina.” Over time as familiarity developed, “Christina” became “Chrissy” and, eventually, “Tina.” And among the gay men who know her, it’s a love-hate relationship.

Says one guy who kicked “Tina,” “Now, I just call her “b*tch, and when I see her coming, or any of her minions, I just whip out my anti-tweaker spray.”

Support For Gay Men and Crystal Meth Addiction

If only it were that easy to break addiction to crystal meth, a convenient little bottle that you could spray whenever you felt like getting high. Unfortunately, many gay men who use crystal have built a whole lifestyle and network of friendships based on use of the drug. Giving up crystal meth addiction means giving up the community they’ve built as well as the parties that go on for days, anonymous sex, more crystal and more anonymous sex. Comparatively, being clean and sober can seem, well, boring.

So how do you find the support you need when you know it’s time to let go of your crystal meth addiction? Where do you find people who understand what you’re going through and won’t judge you for your choices? Online.

Sites Geared Toward Gay Men and Crystal Meth Addiction

Tweaker

Tweaker is a great site full of lots of harm reduction information, how to get off the drug and educational resources so that you can know exactly what you’re doing to your body—and that there is hope beyond crystal meth.

“We’re here because we know that gay guys use crystal meth. But we’re not here to promote meth, glorify it or glamorize it. And we’re not here to condemn using it, criticize it or demonize it.

Instead, we’re here to provide INFORMATION so that gay men really understand crystal and how it affects our physical, mental, sexual and social health, SUPPORT for guys who decide they need to talk about what they know, what they need and how to get answers about their meth use, RESOURCES to help guys when they decide they want help with their meth use. Our website is pretty graphic. There’s stuff in here about sex and drug use. We don’t want you to be offended or threatened and hope that if you’re under 18 years old you’ll go to a different site.”

Strength Over Speed

A Seattle-based organization for gay men, this group has meetings in the Seattle area but the online forums, community and stories can be helpful to gay men around the world who are struggling with crystal meth.

“Strength Over Speed (SOS) is a grassroots, all volunteer community based project whose mission is to help gay and bisexual men maintain recovery from crystal meth addiction.”

Hi, My Name is Tina

This is a Toronto-based organization for gay men who are, well, kicking Tina. It provides an anonymous support for those who are interested in learning more about the drug, are considering getting off it, or are currently struggling with addiction and just need somewhere to vent. They describe themselves thusly:

“We are users, ex-users and people who provide support to people whose lives have been affected by crystal meth use. HiMyNameIsTina.com is an online wellness resource by and for our community. We embrace a harm reduction philosophy that includes abstinence. We’re here to help through information, opportunities for interaction, and inspiration.

“This site is written primarily by and for gay and bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men. If you are offended by images and the sexual language of these communities and cultures, then please don’t enter.”

Crystal Neon

Another site focused on the raising of awareness within the gay community about the dangers of the drug, it also provides harm reduction assistance to those who aren’t ready to quit and information for those who are.

“This website contains information for gay and bisexual men who use methamphetamine. We in no way promote or encourage the use of this controlled substance. Instead, we seek to help individuals minimize the harms associated with use of methamphetamine. Because of our harm reduction goals, some language and imagery may not be suitable for individuals under 18 years of age. Also, if you quit using methamphetamine or are trying to quit, you may wish only to view the section of this website that pertains to managing, cutting down, and quitting.”

Quitting Crystal

If you are addicted to crystal meth and are ready to quit, The Canyon offers inpatient treatment that is comprehensive and efficient. Getting off crystal meth can be one of the most difficult things you ever do, but it’s not something you have to do alone.

If you have “kicked Tina” or are in the process, what was the most difficult aspect of recovery in your experience?

It’s not always clear if someone you love is addicted to drugs, especially when you want more than anything for it not to be true. If you are using yourself, it may be even more difficult to be objective. But there are very definite signs and symptoms of drug abuse and addiction. Check out the list below and if these apply to you or your loved one, it is important that drug addiction treatment is sought immediately.

Health and behavior deteriorates. People who are caught up in drug addiction rarely take care of themselves physically. They are often sick and, because they don’t feel well, they are also irritable, angry and anxious. Severe depression often sets in and moods fluctuate violently based on whether or not the person is high or coming down. In general, those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol find it difficult to concentrate on anything, are listless and non-communicative, and often fall ill.

Financial problems. It’s hard to keep track of your money when you’re addicted to drugs and alcohol, and habits are expensive. A drug addict rarely has money, because their addiction comes first. Bills don’t get paid, credit cards get maxed out, and many are driven to stealing—first from family and friends and then eventually petty theft crimes—in order to pay for their habit.

Losing jobs or failing out of school. Just like drug addicts and alcoholics rarely pay their bills or make it to doctor’s appointments, they also find it difficult to make it to school and work on time. Most will use drugs at work or school before they start missing days due to drug use. Soon, they’ll stop going completely, get kicked out or fired.

Changes in relationships. It’s difficult for an addict or alcoholic to hang out with people who aren’t using, so relationships with sober or “normal” friends and family members may drop off as addiction increases. New friends whose lives revolve around drugs and alcohol may come into the picture and addicts and alcoholics may become secretive about their drug abuse.

Changes in social life. Rather than going out, drug addicts and alcoholics tend to only go to functions where alcohol and drugs will be. If it’s a sober venue, an addict or alcoholic usually won’t show or else will smuggle in some substances. A great deal of time will be spent alone, as well, either recovering from a stint of using or just being high.

Just to make it more confusing, there is such a thing as a “functional” addict, or someone who can maintain a job, pay their bills and still make it to social functions and still be an alcoholic or addict. It’s rare, but it can happen and it’s just as serious, if not more so, than an addict who is so obviously in trouble. Too many times, the person doesn’t go for help and people don’t figure out that he or she needs treatment until it’s too late.

If you suspect that someone you love is an addict or alcoholic and would like to set up an intervention, you can call The Canyon. We have professional interventionists available to guide you through the process.

How did you know that you or your loved one was an addict?

Photo credit Eggybird at Flickr

It’s been said that depression is the “common cold” of the mental health world. About 5 percent of the U.S. population is experiencing a major episode of depression at any given moment. For people addicted to drugs, the likelihood for developing depression increases significantly. Depression affects your thoughts, your feelings, and your body. Take a look at how addiction can become intertwined with depression.

Lack of Energy

When you’re depressed, you just don’t feel much like doing anything. There’s very little get-up-and-go to your day. Drinking or taking drugs may cause problems with your appetite, too. You miss out on good nutrition that would give you healthy energy throughout the day. Also, you might be using a drug that perks you up or slows you down even more. All of this really messes with your ability to have lasting energy.

Sleep Problems

Depression can turn your sleep cycle upside-down. You feel like sleeping all day, or you have trouble with insomnia. Anyone who’s gotten off-track with their sleep for more than a day or two can recall how messed up they felt. Some of your “self-medicating” activities might be intended to help you settle down or stay awake.

Negative Thoughts and Negative Mood

Depression churns up negative thoughts like “This is pointless,” “It’ll never get better,” “It’s hopeless,” and “I’m worthless.” This goes hand-in-hand with a negative mood. This mood could look like sadness, irritability and impatience, or full-fledged anger. All of this tends to be worse when you add drinking or drug use. Using decreases your inhibitions and judgment. In other words, you’re a lot more likely to let your angry mood get you into fist fight after you’ve gotten drunk or high.

Thoughts of Self Harm

People with depression sometimes think about hurting themselves, either to escape or to really end the pain of living. Drinking or drug use can knock your judgment out of whack. When you have scary thoughts about hurting yourself, you walk a really dangerous line. You might get high just to shut the awful thoughts out of your head. Or worse, you could actually attempt to hurt yourself when you’re drunk because your emotions are in charge. People with addictions are more likely to attempt suicide than people with only depression.

Social Isolation

When someone is depressed, they often believe that they are crazy, and no one would understand them. They are embarrassed by how confused and awful they feel, so they tend to withdraw. Also, their negative mood and lack of energy can cause friends and family to pull away from them. This can be a discouraging cycle just when they need social support the most. You might drink or use to cover up the pain of feeling alone, which can make this cycle even more painful and isolating.

All this talk about symptoms isn’t meant to be disheartening. Depression is a very treatable condition. Social support, good counseling, sometimes medication, and skill building are effective tools for treating depression. The professionals at the Canyon really know what they’re doing when it comes to treating two serious problems like this at one time.

There are more symptoms of depression than the ones listed here, so tell us your experience. Sometimes it helps to let someone know what you’re going through.

Have you been through a period of depression in your life? The examples listed above may or may not match your experience – so how have your depression symptoms been connected with your addiction?

Self help groups that are based on the 12-step ideology are often referred to as traditional or conservative due to the fact that they’re so well known and prevalent across the country and around the world. They’re also proven to be very effective and in conjunction with alternative therapies like the ones available at The Canyon: equine-assisted therapy, adventure therapy, art therapy, yoga and meditation. An effective drug addiction treatment is all about finding the right combination of different therapies to help you unlock the door to your future.

The 12 Steps

Though there are a number of different 12-step groups, each focused on a different addiction, most of them are based upon “working the steps,” 12 assertions and/or actions that help you to come terms with your addiction and learn how to go forward without relapsing. According to the original 12-step group, Alcoholics Anonymous, these steps include:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

12 Step Programs

When it comes to 12 step programs, there’s one for every addiction in the book. Pick your poison:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Cocaine Anonymous
• Crystal Meth Anonymous
• Marijuana Anonymous
• Overeaters Anonymous
• Co-Dependents Anonymous

When you come to stay with us at The Canyon, we incorporate the 12 steps into the mix of therapeutic options that we provide so that you can get used to the concepts and how it works. By the time you leave, you’ll have no problem making your way to a meeting in your hometown and finding the support you need.

Have 12 step meetings helped you to stay clean and sober?

It doesn’t matter how effective an alcohol addiction treatment center or program is: if you don’t stick it out and see it through, it’s not going to work. If you don’t really try, it’s not going to work. If you don’t focus your attention while you’re in the program and tune into your own internal issues, then no alcohol rehab facility is going to be worth your time.

So if you really want your alcoholism treatment to make a difference in your life, what do you do?

Stay in treatment. That’s right. It couldn’t be simpler. Stay at the treatment center and don’t go home until your program is complete. Don’t give up! Taking part in your therapy, showing up for groups, just getting out of bed every morning and going to breakfast instead of feeling sorry for yourself: all these, as basic as they sound, must happen if you’re going to make your alcohol addiction treatment work for you. This isn’t hard to do if you undergo alcohol addiction treatment at The Canyon: a sprawling estate in the Santa Monica Mountains outside Malibu, it will be more difficult to go home than it will be to stay.

Speak up. When you’re in groups, you don’t have to wait to be called on. When you’re in an action or art therapy and you have a question about how something is done, ask. If you’re in your personal therapy session and you have a concern about how something is or isn’t working for you, speak up. If you don’t take part in your treatment, you won’t be able to maintain it when you leave.

Follow through. Alcohol rehab isn’t over when you leave the treatment center and your inpatient stay is over. You need to continue your treatment through aftercare or sober living, maintaining relationships with those you went through rehab with, checking in with counselors and joining local support groups like AA. At The Canyon, we have both sober living and outpatient aftercare available in conjunction with our alcohol rehab program. Be sure to ask about it at any time during your stay with us.

If you’ve been through alcohol rehab, do you have any tips for how to make it work?

Yesterday we looked at the first five signs of a successful drug rehab customizable treatment plan, a multi-faceted treatment plan, a treatment plan that is continually re-evaluated, a stay of adjustable length, and a variety of treatment options. Today, we look at the last of the 10 things that you should demand from your drug rehab.

The availability of medical treatment when necessary. During drug addiction, most tend to forego doctor’s appointments and medical maintenance. Medical disorders like depression, eating disorders and the like may crop up or, if they are present before drug addiction begins, then they often get worse without treatment. Your drug rehab facility should be able to provide you with the medical help you need to treat these disorders while you are undergoing treatment for drug addiction.

Dual diagnosis treatment when other disorders are present. Especially important is the ability of your drug rehab center to treat co-occurring disorders that are psychological in nature. A large percentage of people who suffer from mental issues use drugs to self-medicate. Drug use often makes the mental issues even worse, larger in scope and more devastating when the individual tries to break their addiction to drugs. It’s imperative that if you have a psychological disorder that you go to a drug rehab that can provide you with dual diagnosis treatment.

Detox facilities available. If you are currently using a drug that has you physically addicted—and most drugs fall into this category—then you will need a drug rehab that can provide you with medical assistance as you detox off of the drug. Withdrawal symptoms can be horrible and you don’t want to do it without a doctor’s supervision. If you need to detox before starting treatment, make sure that your rehab can provide that for you.

Assessment for other diseases. In addition to treatment for your current medical and psychological disorders, you should be tested for other problems that may have developed due to unsafe behavior during drug addiction like HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases.

Abstinence-based treatment only. Though there are benefits to harm reduction as you move closer to breaking your addiction to drugs, if your drug rehab doesn’t emphasize abstinence then it’s simply not going to be effective.

Remember: the lack of any of these characteristics in your drug rehab could (and should) be a deal breaker. If you want your drug rehab to be effective, they must have the ability and resources to provide you with the services you need to recover. Check out The Canyon. We provide each of these 10 signs of an effective rehab and more.

What do you think is indispensable at a drug rehab?

There are so many different types of drug rehab, each with its own approach, its own combination of therapies, its own views on who you should be when you return to the world.

So how do you know which one is going to be your best bet in terms of efficiency? I mean, what’s the point in spending your time and money on drug rehab if isn’t going to work, right?

Well, because drug addiction is a chronic medical disease, those who suffer from it are prone to relapse. In other words, there is no cure for drug addiction, but there are successful treatments. Having said that, here are 10 characteristics that should be a clear part of the drug rehab you choose.

A customizable treatment plan. No two people are the same, and therefore neither should be their treatments. If it seems like the drug rehab forces a one-size-fits-all approach on all of their clients, keep looking.

A multi-faceted treatment plan. Drug addiction affects everyone on multiple levels, including the physical, emotional and spiritual. Therefore, each of these should be addressed during treatment. If the drug rehab center you’re looking at omits any one of these, walk away.

A treatment plan that is continually re-evaluated. No one can know how quickly or slowly you will progress through treatment until you get there. If there isn’t a regular evaluation of your treatment plan every week at least presided over by you and your therapist, then this isn’t the drug rehab for you.

A stay of adjustable length. Some people only need a short-term stay of about 30 days, while others need a long-term stay, a sober living option or, conversely, prefer a day treatment plan that allows them to go home each night. Just like your treatment plan, you may realize that the amount of time you intended to stay originally wasn’t realistic for whatever reason. If your drug rehab can’t accommodate you with multiple options for length of stay, they may not be the place for you.

A variety of treatment options. The problem with minimal choices in therapy options is that often you won’t know what’s going to work for you until you try it. Is equine-assisted therapy for you? Maybe. Maybe not. What about adventure therapy, art therapy, body work and massage? You won’t know until you try it and you can’t try it if it’s not available in the drug rehab you choose.

At The Canyon, we provide all of the therapies listed above plus traditional 12-step support groups and one-on-one therapy sessions. Every person experiences a different treatment plan here and the treatment plan is evaluated weekly during private therapy and everything about your stay is open to discussion and negotiation, available to change and grow right along with you.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the next five characteristics.