Subscribe to this blog's feedI had to dig to find this bit of good news, and sadly, it's gone unreported anywhere else. On December 5th, SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, released its annual report on drug-related visits to hospital emergency departments (EDs) in the U.S.
While the report provides an overall conclusion that "no significant changes in ED visits from 2004 to 2006, or from 2005 to 2006, were detected for any of the major illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and stimulants) or for alcohol," they set a very high bar (>40%) for classifying any changes as "significant."
The good news is that meth-related ED visits dropped 39.7 percent between 2004 and 2006 (see the table below), and it's been a steady drop over the three year period.
This jibes well with previously released data by Quest Diagnostics showing a huge decline in positive tests for meth in workplace drug screenings. After increasing 73 percent from 2002 to 2004, positive tests for meth in workplace drug screenings dropped more than 50 percent between 2005 and 2007:
All great news, but the gay community shouldn't celebrate yet. Meth use among gay men has always represented a small proportion of overall meth use in the U.S.. The bulk of its use occurs among low-income white heterosexuals. There's obviously been a decline in use nationwide, but we don't know yet if that means gay men are using less.
I get the sense that they are, but we still don't have the data to prove that.
Such great news!!! I've seen it ruin lives, time and time again....
The numbers are dropping because the meth users are dying and subsequently don't need to come back to the ER! I'm tired of "drugs" being used to explain the behavior or consequences of behavior (ruined lives) of self-destructive assholes. My experience with drug users is the selfish jerks were selfish jerks before the meth and will always be selfish jerks even if they get and stay sober. People cling to the belief that the drugs "changed" their loved ones from good to bad. Sorry, I'm guessing your loved ones were always bad and just use the drugs as an excuse for their anti-social behavior.
Ewe, that last comment was harsh. I used meth, what of it? I'm not selfish or a jerk?!
Two comment to add. Either the unemployment has risen to the point have the meth and coke users, who were already putting their jobs at risk, lost them and/or the study did really focus on the gay male population.
Interesting, though. I believe it's straight teens and 20 somethings that the media is focusing on. I'm still LOVING the "I'M ANGRY" phone billboards in Chelsea and Hell Kitchen. And of course, I loved Peter's disco ball guy.
:)
This is welcome news. I work with many gay men in recovery, poz and neg, and one of the most challenging issues I help guys with is overcoming crystal meth addiction. It's possible -- recovery does happen -- but it takes work, such as CONSISTENT AA attendance, therapy, having a sponsor, working the steps, and taking care of yourself in lots of ways that we discuss. The less meth use "out there" in our community, the better gay men's mental health will be.