The Culture of Methamphetamine: Reframing Gay Men's Methamphetamine Use

Abstract

Most often, methamphetamine researchers examine the biological and psychological outcomes of chronic methamphetamine use and problems leading toward relapse. Consequently, the current intervention models tend to sidestep the salience of socio-cultural environments that influence methamphetamine use. In line with the person-in-environment framework of social work, we submit that understanding these facets can illuminate the dynamic processes that initiate and support methamphetamine use and the subsequent risky sexual behaviors among gay and bisexual men. To that end, this article is a review and synthesis of existing literature on methamphetamine use in the men who have sex with men community. We also provide some recommendations for practitioners.

Keywords:

• Methamphetamine
• literature review
• gay men
• substance use
• culture

Notes

The authors acknowledge Jeremy Goldbach, PhD student, University of Texas at Austin, for his contribution in writing this manuscript.