Gay Amphetamine Abuse and Addiction

Within the gay community, the use of amphetamines has become a cause for concern, often leading to full-blown addiction. Belonging to a class of drugs known as stimulants, amphetamines can be obtained via street sale, received by physician’s prescriptions for severe obesity or narcolepsy treatment, or dispensed by psychiatrists to treat conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, due to the way amphetamines interact with chemical messengers in the brain, addiction often sets in even during periods of short-lived experimentation. For many individuals in the gay community, amphetamine abuse leads to drug addiction that requires inpatient rehabilitation to resolve.

Contributing Factors for Gay Amphetamine Abuse and Addiction

Any individual of any sexual orientation can become addicted to amphetamines, largely due to the drug’s chemical structure and its methods of interaction with the brain and body. However, for many individuals in the gay community, reasons for amphetamine abuse also include psychological and emotional factors. Here are a few of the aspects of amphetamine use that often play into gay amphetamine abuse and addiction. Though these factors are not confined to the gay community, many gay men find their drug use originates from these pressures and dynamics.

• Amphetamines Effects on Body Image
  Because a premium is often placed on fitness in the gay community, issues of body image sometimes play into amphetamines abuse and addiction. Amphetamines work to suppress the appetite, often accounting for their facilitation in the development of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Many individuals in the gay community begin taking amphetamines to facilitate rapid weight loss.
• Amphetamines Effects on Energy Elevation
  From truck drivers and airplane pilots to executives and students, many individuals use amphetamines in order to temporarily increase mental acuity and energy levels. Because amphetamines act on the brain’s “fight or flight” impulses through increases in norepinephrine, the drug can provide bursts of energy, confidence and focus for users. Unfortunately, over time, these effects tend to decrease, adding to the exhaustion and lethargy associated with post-binge amphetamine “crashes.” Emphasis on wealth and success, participation in the gay late-night dance scene or pressures to perform intellectually or business-wise can all lead to drug-seeking behaviors in order to enhance performance.
• Physical Chemistry and Amphetamines Abuse
  Amphetamines act on a series of chemical messengers in the brain known as neurotransmitters – particularly one known as dopamine. Though synthetic, amphetamines have a similar chemical structure to dopamine, causing the drug to unseat the neurochemical’s reserves. Users become flooded with dopamine, causing feelings of euphoria and calm. Once the drug exits the system, amphetamines users feel a depletion of the neurotransmitter. Over time, this chemical imbalance is mitigated by the brain lowering natural production levels of dopamine. During periods in between use, amphetamines users experience the chemical imbalance that has occurred, leading them to crave further drug use.