I am planning a gay-specific programme for gay men (and women) who are unhappy with their drinking, smoking or recreational drug use and I would appreciate your feedback.In preparation I decided to see what research had been done so far on gay drugging and drinking.
(I also have extensive personal experience of London's club life style and its consequnces, having run my own club events for many years).
As a gay/ gay friendly therapist offering help to people who are unhappy about some aspects of their lives AND as ex-smoker facing a CT scan of my left lung this week, I am struck by the lack of any visible support for those gay people who desire to stop.
I have never noticed any information on the potential dangers of smoking, drinking and the use of recreational drugs in gay bars and clubs I go to. Would clubs be the right place to get the message across?
If you have seen any posters or leaflets with info on quitting then I would happily post information commending that venue. I would hazzard a guess that our entire community is founded on a scene that is oiled by drink, drugs and smoking. (It is equally true of straight clubs but its common knowledge that gays "party" more. Its almost the case that gay ideological belief is "I party therefore I am "/
Several clients of mine have complained that whole gay scene to be very drug and drink fuelled. Those who abstain are hardly acknowedged socially.
VAST MAJORITY OF US WANT TO STOP SMOKING - PLEASE HELP US!If you have seen any posters or leaflets with info on quitting then I would happily post information commending that venue. I would hazzard a guess that our entire community is founded on a scene that is oiled by drink, drugs and smoking. (It is equally true of straight clubs but its common knowledge that gays "party" more. Its almost the case that gay ideological belief is "I party therefore I am "/
Several clients of mine have complained that whole gay scene to be very drug and drink fuelled. Those who abstain are hardly acknowedged socially.
Stop the train I want to get off...I have started reading the Gay Men's Sex Survey for insights in our communities unmet needs as regards stopping smoking and drinking less or becoming healthier.
If you are unhappy with some aspects of your drug use including smoking and drinking you are not alone at all. The vast majority of gay men who smoke actually want to stop. In fact an incredible 67.7% indicated they did want to stop smoking and this was amongst those who smoked less than ten cigarettes a day and those who smoked more!
"I SOMETIMES WORRY ABOUT HOW MUCH I DRINK"
29.6% of drinkers were concerned about their alcohol use.. Concern was associated with frequency of use, rising to 36.9% among the men who drank more than weekly (67% of the entire sample). All the media attention seems devoted to the extreme behaviour of a smaller minority of class A u
sers eg coke sniffers or crystal meth heads and ketamine/GHB users who inhabit our more body conscious gym bunny nightclubs and chill outs. I think this is because their behaviour is so visible and dramatic and results in ambulances being called. I recently heard about a gay 16 year old who attended a socalled chill out. The kid overdosed and they simply took the limp body and left it on a street around the corner! Its breaks my hear that many clubs (inlcuding those I have and continue to have involvement with as part time event organiser) need to hire a medic.
At one London nightclub there have been scenes on bank holidays more reminiscent of the tv series Casualty than Studio 54.
sers eg coke sniffers or crystal meth heads and ketamine/GHB users who inhabit our more body conscious gym bunny nightclubs and chill outs. I think this is because their behaviour is so visible and dramatic and results in ambulances being called. I recently heard about a gay 16 year old who attended a socalled chill out. The kid overdosed and they simply took the limp body and left it on a street around the corner! Its breaks my hear that many clubs (inlcuding those I have and continue to have involvement with as part time event organiser) need to hire a medic.At one London nightclub there have been scenes on bank holidays more reminiscent of the tv series Casualty than Studio 54.
Alcohol use remains by far the largest contributor to drug-related concern among Gay men, and probably the largest contributor to drug-related harm.
I WORRY ABOUT MY RECREATIONAL DRUG USE TOO
Another snippet from the survey, "The majority of users of any one drug also used another. "
In fact by far the majority of gay men if they use one drug use at least one other, if not more. So to talk of Marijuana users implies they are different to Poppers users but since many people do "poly drug use" this could be a useful area of thought: how to address users in a way they might identify.
In fact by far the majority of gay men if they use one drug use at least one other, if not more. So to talk of Marijuana users implies they are different to Poppers users but since many people do "poly drug use" this could be a useful area of thought: how to address users in a way they might identify.
"I worry about my about my recreational drug use" was a statement that 18% of poppers users agreed with. As did 21% Marijuana users, 38% of Ketamine users, 38% of GHB users, 39% of Crystal users and 40% of Crack users.
Its clear that many gay men are concerned about their smoking, drinking and recreational drug use. But what can they/you/we do about?
Its clear that many gay men are concerned about their smoking, drinking and recreational drug use. But what can they/you/we do about?
GAY MEN'S SELF CONFIDENCE TAKES A BEATING
The same survey also l asked whether, in the last year, they h
ad been physically attacked or assaulted or verbally abused because of their sexuality. Overall, in the last year, 8.3% (1345/16252) had been physically attacked and 31.7% had been verbally abused (5115/16158) because of their sexuality. This is so shocking and could have such a damaging affect of gay men's self esteem and confidence I will return to this topic in a separate blog. Suffice to say its possible that gay men's self confidence takes a beating physcially and verbally.
ad been physically attacked or assaulted or verbally abused because of their sexuality. Overall, in the last year, 8.3% (1345/16252) had been physically attacked and 31.7% had been verbally abused (5115/16158) because of their sexuality. This is so shocking and could have such a damaging affect of gay men's self esteem and confidence I will return to this topic in a separate blog. Suffice to say its possible that gay men's self confidence takes a beating physcially and verbally.
If you are interested in any of the questions raised here please feel free to contact to discuss any area of your life you would like to change.
As a gay friendly therapist I am happy to see clients from all backgrounds. However I think many gay men might prefer to see a gay affirming therapist. Cognitive Hypnotherapy, NLP and Coaching are goal oriented approaches. If you are unhappy with your drinking or smoking do you know what you want to see, feel and notice instead of your current situation? How long have you been drinking/smoking or using? What have you tried to stop before? What motivates you to change?
If you would like to talk these or any other issues in your life you want to change then visit my webiste and contact me. We can talk for at least 15 minutes to find out if I am the right therapist for you. You feedback is important so feel free to comment on this blog.
Here are some other resources that might be helpful
http://www.londoncognitivehypnotherapy.co.uk/ Tel 07931424905
(my website) Tel +(44)7931424905 if calling out of hours (9am-9pm) please text instead and let me know when is best to return your call.
As a gay friendly therapist I am happy to see clients from all backgrounds. However I think many gay men might prefer to see a gay affirming therapist. Cognitive Hypnotherapy, NLP and Coaching are goal oriented approaches. If you are unhappy with your drinking or smoking do you know what you want to see, feel and notice instead of your current situation? How long have you been drinking/smoking or using? What have you tried to stop before? What motivates you to change?
If you would like to talk these or any other issues in your life you want to change then visit my webiste and contact me. We can talk for at least 15 minutes to find out if I am the right therapist for you. You feedback is important so feel free to comment on this blog.
Here are some other resources that might be helpful
http://www.londoncognitivehypnotherapy.co.uk/ Tel 07931424905
(my website) Tel +(44)7931424905 if calling out of hours (9am-9pm) please text instead and let me know when is best to return your call.
There are gay specific weekly NA meetings in London
http://www.ukna.org/
The Gay Men's Sex Survey
http://www.sigmaresearch.org.uk/downloads/report07c.pdf
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