Community concerns over ice use among gay men in Victoria

Community concerns over ice use among gay men in Victoria

A REPORT into the use of ice in Victoria has sparked concerns over a high prevalence of the drug among young gay men.

An inquiry into methamphetamine use and supply in Victoria focusing on ice was submitted to a parliamentary committee last week, and identified LGBT people as a group facing “problematic” methamphetamine use.

The release of the report has prompted concerned discussion in Melbourne’s LGBTI community, with the issue being raised in relation to HIV transmissions at a community forum with state politicians before the upcoming Victorian election.

A Fairfax Media report into ice use in the gay community claimed mobile hookup apps like Grindr and Scruff were facilitating sales of the drug within the community and linked ice use to HIV transmission, despite a number of researchers remaining reluctant to identify such a link.

The report recommended LGBT communities be a particular focus in the state’s response to ice use through policy development and service delivery.

It follows a report out of the Kirby Institute earlier this year showing a “significant increase” in ice use for gay men since 2010.

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2 responses to “Community concerns over ice use among gay men in Victoria”

  1. Are we surprised marriage equality hasnt passed in australia, when you look at people on dating sites treating each other ruthlessly and almost every second member of the gay community on some kind of drugs. People need to grow up and take responsibility for themselves. Fix your own community before screaming “discrimination”

  2. I have deleted Grindr and Scruff because they have become unhealthy breeding grounds for meth addicts, every second profile has ‘wired’ somewhere on it… Our community is falling apart thanx to this…

    I no longer go out or try to contribute to our community anymore because ice is such common place…

    Something needs to happen, or does everyone get HIV to make them realise the mess they’ve put themselves in? I see HIV as the logical conclusion to meth usage… I’ve already had 12 acquaintances who are either reformed users or still using that are now HIV positive as a result of their ‘partying’… I am expecting the figure to be much higher very soon… :(