No I do not think its a big deal at all
Yes it is a problem but getting much better
Yes it is a problem and just getting worse
I have seen in resent years that the drug situation is getting a bit better in my opinion, but I still believe that the meth/crystal situation is really hurting the availability of good models. I have also seen quite a few webmaster taking advantage of the situation and actually make sites that promote its use, and still use some models that are clearly addicts. I was just wondering how many studios really drug test models, and if they really think this situation is getting better. :angel:
I believe that Crystal is hurting not just our industry, but all industries. Diminished cognitive and physical ability by users and addicts of Crystal has been proven many times.
Since Tina has become a gay drug in many urban areas, I believe that it's likely that the gay side of our industry may be hit harder. Also, that damn impotance that the Crystal boys get can be very challenging when it hits in front of the camera (it's already hard enough for some to perform when they're under the spotlight).
Personally, when I see a film that has someone that's obviously cracked out in it, I just find it disappointing.
http://www.crystalbreaks.org
Meth is still a serious problem within the gay community. All of our models sign a Consent and Release Form consenting to drug testing on the day of the shoot and releasing up from any liability.
During the initital interview with our models we go into a great deal of depth regarding drug use on the set and make it very clear that it is not allowed. Due to this, we have only had a couple of situations where we had to ask a model to take a drug test. They refuse of course and the don't appear in our films.
Bill
Ya man, I saw just the other day a nameless, guy posted a pic of a guy he was working with that was so cracked out it looked like he had not had any sleep or eaten in a week. I was really just under the impression it was getting a bit better over the past, 3 years or so, but I guess not.
Originally Posted by BijouWorld
I am glad that you do at least threaten to test them man, I guess having only a few is not so bad, after all I would think you have worked with 100s and 100s of them. Maybe it is not as bad as it sometimes looks from the outside anyway.
I think there's four groups in relation to Tina in the gay community...
- New boys that are unaware and think it's the next great party drug.
- People that started using it, saw the damage, and stopped using.
- People that started using it and have not yet admitted the damage and are continuing to use it.
- Those that never have picked it up.
The third group of people are becoming more evident in our community because they're constant messes. I think it's a small group, but the sadness of their situation is so obvious it seems like they're everywhere.
I really believe our community is on the up swing. I see the lines getting shorter to the "powder rooms" (private bathrooms) at clubs and things like that...at least in Chicago. The social acceptability of using Meth has greatly reduced in Chicago...but last year was a very sad year for our community here...a lot of community leaders were destroyed due to Tina and our party The Fireball was cancelled largely due to the problems Tina brought on our community.
That said, this drug IS THE NEW GAY HEALTH CRISIS. Here's a couple statistics for you:
- Boys who use Tina are THREE TIMES more likely to contract HIV.
- In the US, slightly over 2% of the population uses Crystal...compare that with over 20% of the GAY US population using Crystal.
http://www.lifeormeth.com
Ken,
You could probably add another category to you list:
"Guys who use and know it's bad and have tried to stop even to the point of going through rehab only to start again once they get out of rehab".
I know several guys in the So. California area who fit into that category.
Bill
Yeah, that can happen. I've read a study that indicates that Crystal increases the Dopamine relase by 1500 times in the system, in contrast to Coke increasing only 300 times. It is a highly addictive substance.
Many treatment programs believe that relapse can be part of recovery. For some, it's just one more night out there cracked out that will teach them the right lesson they needed to learn...others may go out for another year before they end up back at "rock bottom".
IMO, it's important to remember that these guys are suffering from a disease and need our community's support. Just like how we've fought and are starting to win our fight against AIDS, we have to do the same to win the fight against Crystal. Educate our brothers that have avoided getting the disease, reduce the harm of those suffering from the disease but not in treatment, and support those that have the disease full blown or in remission.
That's why I believe we'll win this fight...because our community knows how to unite and mobilize. It's not our first threat and likely not our last.
I have been in AA for over 7 years now. It is not uncommon to go to a meeting where there is someone with 5, 10, 15 and even 20 years sobriety from alcohol. Recently the AA club I go to has started a few Crystal Meth Anonymous meetings. Someone with 6 months clean is considered an "old timer". Meth seems to be the toughest drug of all to kick--seeing the physical withdrawals they go through is disturbing, and the availability of real treatment is appalling. I was lucky I got into an in-patient alcohol rehab, actually a medical necessity since I went through 4 days of the DT's. Most meth addicts do not have health insurance that will pay for inpatient treatment and there really is no viable alternative for those first few weeks of violent physical withdrawals. At least with alcohol, the intense physical cravings, when the chance for relapse is greatest, subside within 6 months. From the guys I know that have recovered from meth, the physical cravings lasted 18 months. That is a evil monkey to get off anyone's back.
Chad Belville, Esq
Phoenix, Arizona
www.chadknowslaw.com
Keeping you out of trouble is easier than getting you out of trouble!
See I am not trying to talk shit, but I have done some drugs, and drinking in my day, but I have never been really addicted to anything but I guess cigarettes. Not that I do not see it happening to some people, but I am really not sure I would ever be one of them “trust me I have tried to in the past” I just really don’t get how someone could keep doing drugs past the point that it is still fun.
That is the definition of "addiction"
When I first drank, I did it because it felt good.
Eventually, I drank to feel normal.
Then I drank so that I didn't have to feel anything.
Chad Belville, Esq
Phoenix, Arizona
www.chadknowslaw.com
Keeping you out of trouble is easier than getting you out of trouble!
Well I do not want to sound offensive, and I can only speak of what I have experienced, but I have gone though many phases in my life when I would drink every night for like 2 years in my late teens, and I have done most drugs, but other than pot most with out any real regularity as in every day or other day. I have even done meth, but do not like how it makes me feeling the next day so did not do it very often at all. Will with all this use it was never what I would call addicted to any of it, I stopped drinking cuzz I just got bored with it and like the other stuff, I never have any overwhelming urge that I have to keep doing it. I personally think allot of the substances addictions are genetic, but that maybe just from my point of view. LOL in fact I can not get a rash from poison ivy or poison oak for that matter
If you don't have an addiction, and have never had a friend or family member suffer from an addiction, you don't need to understand addiction.
However, if you don''t have a friend or family member that is suffering or has suffered from an addiction then likely you don't have any friends or family members.
Chad Belville, Esq
Phoenix, Arizona
www.chadknowslaw.com
Keeping you out of trouble is easier than getting you out of trouble!
Well that is very true, of course I have know many, many people that are, or have been addict to one thing or another, but at times it is still hard to see how someone could lose control that way.
From my study in Psychology I've seen that addiction can be hereditary in families. This is either through watching said addict and not seeing an alternate and better lifestyle, or if they did it before the child was born then it could be a chemical suseptability to the drug. Since all drugs are chemicals that can change your DNA or cause problems in said DNA, you can pass down a higher chance of addiction to your children.
I've seen this in action in my own family. Both of my great-grandfather's were severe alcoholics, both dying of liver disease later in life. My dad's father did drink constantly but I'm not sure if he was an alcohold. Out of the four boys of my dad's family, 3 have been to AA to battle their alcohol addiction.
On my mom's side, all the grandchildren saw their grandfather drunk and acting weird. Even my uncle who is adopted and two of his cousins became drug addicts. My uncle thankfully dropped it with the help of the army but the cousins are still addicts.
I have never done drugs and I rarely drink because I got to see both sides of the life. I don't want any of it. So there's my say.
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