| Crystal: What you need to know
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download a PDF of the Crystal Brochure.
What is Crystal? (AKA: Tina, crank, crissy, speed, meth,
tweek)
Crystal is an amphetamine — a synthetic stimulant that excites
the brain and the central nervous system. Crystal increases the
release of dopamine in your body — the chemical that sends
pleasure messages to the brain. Crystal is most often found as
an odorless off-white or white powder but can also be found in
pill, capsule, or crystal form.
Why so Popular?
People express different reasons for using crystal. Some of the
more common ones are:
- The desire to have lots of sex for a long time with multiple
partners.
- The ability to dance for hours on end.
- To accomplish dull tasks; for example, users report feeling
more energetic and having more fun cleaning their house.
- To get higher on less; for example, crystal provides a high
that lasts much longer than cocaine, so users get "more for the
money."
- To lose sexual inhibitions; for example, to have sex with
men if you normally don't, to have aggressive or submissive sex,
to bottom.
People may use crystal for other reasons that are not so apparent:
- Loneliness: Some gay men may feel isolated;
crystal is often a social experience.
- The desire to connect with others: Some gay
men say it's easier to meet or feel close with other men when
on crystal.
- Body image: Some gay men say that crystal
makes you feel good about your body (i.e. dick size, build, weight,
etc.).
- Loss of energy: Some gay men say crystal
gives you energy to do it all. Some HIV+ men say crystal makes
up for weakness associated with taking HIV medications.
- Self-esteem: Some gay men say crystal reduces
insecurities, giving them confidence.
- Depression: Feeling sad, empty or incomplete
inside is a big reason a person might turn to crystal, or any
substance, to change how he is feeling. Gay men are sometimes
un-aware that depression is impacting their use of crystal.
Methods of Ingestion
The onset of a crystal high varies depending on how you take
it. Users report experiencing different highs from the different
methods of ingestion — these different highs can inform
your sexual behaviors.
- Swallowing: Getting high by swallowing crystal
in pill form, or by mixing it in liquids. The high sets in about
20 – 30 minutes after ingesting.
- Snorting: Getting high by inhaling crystal
through the nose. The high sets in around 3 to5 minutes after
snorting. It goes directly into the veins of your nose.
- Smoking: Using a pipe (glass or homemade)
to get high. It takes 7 – 10 seconds to feel the high.
- Booty Bump: Inserting it into your anus.
It takes 10 – 15 seconds for the high to set in. The lining
of the rectum absorbs the drug.
- Injection: Putting crystal in your veins
with a needle. It takes about 15 – 30 seconds for the high
to set in and is the most powerful high.
What happens?
For many people, crystal use begins recreationally, enhancing
one's sexual experiences and dancing or social activities. However,
crystal is extremely addictive, and even for many people who have
practiced moderation in many aspects of their lives, crystal often
becomes an addiction.
Crystal can elevate your mood, induce euphoria, increase alertness,
reduce fatigue, increase energy levels, and suppress appetite.
It also increases movement and speech, and can provide a sense
of increased power and a desire to be sexual. Many describe it
as "feeling invincible and feeling like the life of the party."
Coming down from the high ("crashing") includes symptoms of anxiety,
irritability, and sometimes severe depression. People who are crashing
often experience sweating spells, nausea, paranoia, psychosis and
total physical and mental exhaustion causing extended periods of
sleep.
Overdosing on crystal can dramatically affect your breathing (breathing
may be shallow and short) and in some cases may stop your breathing.
Some symptoms of an overdose include severe chest pain, convulsions,
and vomiting. Overdose can result in heart attacks, strokes, and
death.
Long term or heavy use can lead to neurological damage, chronic
depression, liver and kidney damage, and other health related problems.
Crystal and Sex
Some users who have sex while high on crystal can stay hard and
fuck for hours. Others experience what is known as a "crystal dick" or
the inability to get hard. Often, men will use crystal in combination
with Viagra to get or keep an erection. This can potentially raise
your blood-pressure to dangerously high levels which can take you
steps closer to an overdose or give you a really long lasting hard-on
that can permanently damage the muscles and tendons in your dick.
The inability to get a hard-on can often lead someone who usually
tops to bottoming. And in whichever position, some guys report
dispensing with using a condom from the start. Remember:
unprotected anal sex is the leading cause of HIV transmission. See
below; and for more information on safer bottoming tips, refer
to GMHC's booklet, "Tunnel of Love: the Ins and Outs of Anal
Pleasure," click here.
If you are HIV positive
- If you are HIV positive, you should know that Crystal speeds
up the rate of HIV replication.
- Crystal reduces the effectiveness of HIV meds (HAART).
- Some protease inhibitors like Amprenavir (Agenerase) increase
the amount of amphetamine in your blood stream, putting you at
risk for an overdose.
- The lifestyle connected to crystal use can exhaust your immune
system and affect your ability to take medications as prescribed.
- Using crystal may affect your decisions. You may decide not
to use condoms. If you have sex without a condom, you are likely
to transmit the virus to your partner(s).
- These findings make it even more important for you to take
better care of yourself and to reconsider your use of crystal.
If you are HIV negative:
- Research has connected the rise of HIV infection rates amongst
gay men to crystal use
- Crystal is known to impair judgment and can lead to unsafe
sex... and HIV.
- Crystal is known to reduce inhibitions allowing men to engage
in rough sex, or bottom.
- Crystal can complicate your decisions on condom use
- These findings make it even more important for you to take
better care of yourself and to reconsider your use of crystal
Safer Sex Tips
- Stay mindful of your sexual limits. Identify ways to ensure
you use a condom.
- Tops need condoms too. Protect yourself. Topping
without a condom still holds significant risk for HIV transmission.
- Remember to reapply lube frequently to prevent the condom
from drying out and to prevent the lining of your rectum from
tearing, both of which increase the risk of HIV transmission.
- Condoms wear out. Change the condom during extended fuck sessions.
Pull your dick out regularly and check if the condom is still
intact.
- Lube keeps condoms from breaking.
- Discuss your HIV status with your sex partners.
- Use plenty of lube when masturbating for extended periods
of time as your dick may chafe or scratch.
- When having oral sex for extended periods of time, check the
condition of your mouth — you might not notice whether your
mouth is chafed or sore. Drink water throughout the night.
- Check your partner(s') dick for sores or scratches. Remember
Sexually Transmitted Infections increase the chance of HIV transmission.
Health Concerns to Remember
- Crystal is highly addictive. Use may change from snorting
to smoking or slamming — or from using socially to using
alone.
- Binging postpones the end of the party but will make the crash
worse.
- Tolerance develops quickly. You will need more and more crystal
to get high.
- Crystal will decrease your desire for food.
- Crystal will impact your perceived need for sleep.
- Crystal can cause exhaustion and dehydration.
- It can lead to depression and cause temporary psychosis.
- Agitation and anxiety are common when using crystal.
- Overdose is a very real and present danger.
How to Care for Your Body
- If you are going to use, you ought to use extreme caution
and limit how much you take.
- Listen to what your body is telling you.
- Drink water and cranberry juice to keep hydrated.
- EAT.
- Don't assume you didn't get enough. The more you use the less
burning you will feel in your nose and the less intense you may
feel. If you don't feel it right away, wait.
- Avoid caffeine, soda, and energy drinks.
- Sleep, take naps. Allow your body to recover.
- Don't overdo it.
- Don't hesitate to get help. If you have questions, whether
you are just thinking about using, occasionally using, or find
yourself using more often, you can get answers. See resources
below.
If you are injecting (slamming) crystal:
- Use a new syringe and new equipment every time you inject.
- Don't share needles. Sharing needles can lead to HIV, Hepatitis
C and B.
- Clean injection sites with alcohol pads before injecting.
If alcohol pads are not available, clean the injection site with
warm soap and water. It will not be as effective as alcohol.
- Change injection sites to avoid collapsed veins and abscesses.
- New needles can be purchased at participating pharmacies without
a prescription. For more information, call (800) 543-3638.
- Access needle exchange programs. For information on exchange
locations, call the Harm Reduction Coalition (212) 213 6376 or
visit their website at www.harmreduction.org.
For a more extensive list of how to take care of your
physical and mental health, you can also visit tweaker.org
at: www.tweaker.org
Resources
There's a lot of information on this page. There is help for you
to help sort it all out. GMHC can help you reduce or stop using
Crystal. We can provide you with tools and skills you need to practice
safer sex. If you use crystal — or are just thinking about
it — and you want to talk to someone, contact:
Gay Men Health Crisis
The Tisch Building,
119 West 24th Street, 8th floor
GMHC Hotline (800) 243-7692
Substance Use Counseling and Education (S.U.C.E.) information line:
(212) 367-1354
www.gmhc.org/programs/suce.html
Come to discuss any concerns about your crystal use and/or your
sexual health concerns.
- Drop-in counseling hours are 4pm to 7pm Monday through Friday.
No appointment necessary.
- Meet with an experienced peer counselor, someone who can relate
to who you are and what you are experiencing
- Engage in short term counseling to examine the impact crystal
is having on your life, to assess your sexual decision making,
and to develop solutions that are comfortable for you.
- Participate in 10 week groups to help you obtain tools that
support change
- All our services are confidential and free of charge. No insurance
necessary.
Other resources in New York City include:
Pride Institute
280 Madison Avenue, Suite 305
New York, NY 10016
(212) 243-5565
www.pride-institute.com
- Outpatient abstinence based individual and group counseling
- Inpatient abstinence treatment available (out of state)
St. Vincent's Hospital — Alcoholism and Addiction
Outpatient Program
203 West 12th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 604-8273
- Outpatient individual and group counseling
- Inpatient drug detoxification
Inter-care — Alcohol and Addiction Outpatient Program
51 East 25th Street
New York, NY 10010
(212) 532-0303
www.inter-care.org
- Abstinence based inpatient and outpatient treatment
Centercare — Harm Reduction/Recovery Readiness Program
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Services Center
208 West 13th Street,
New York City 10011
(212) 620-7310
www.gaycenter.org
- Harm reduction and abstinence-based individual and group counseling
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center- Primary healthcare
(including mental health)
356 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 271-7272
www.callen-lorde.org
- Primary Health Care for gay men including Mental Health
Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA)
(212)642-5029
www.nycma.org
- Abstinence based 12 step anonymous groups. Many meetings take
place at GMHC on a daily basis.
If you use crystal and want to stop or reduce your use, we are
here to support you.
- Drop-in counseling, weekdays from 4pm – 7 pm (no appointment
necessary). Other times available by appointment*.
- Anonymous hotline
- Comprehensive individual and group counseling
- Workshops and support groups
- HIV testing
All services are free (HIV testing is on a sliding scale), confidential,
and available in English and Spanish.
For more information, or to make an appointment, call the GMHC
hotline on 1-800-AIDS-NYC.
To receive a copy of Crystal: What you need to know,
please contact: press@gmhc.org.
We are located at:
The Institute for Gay Men's Health
Gay Men's Health Crisis
8th Floor
119 West 24th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)
New York, NY, 10011
© 2007 Gay Men's Health Crisis |
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