AEGiS-BAYW: Fenway to host forum on meth and barebacking

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Fenway to host forum on meth and barebacking

Bay Windows - April 21, 2005
Ethan Jacobs, ejacobs@baywindows.com.

Crystal methamphetamine and barebacking have made the news in recent months, with reports coming out of New York City of an alleged HIV "superbug" that may have been spread among gay men through meth-fueled unprotected sex (see "'Superbug' Fallout", March 10). Like New York, Boston's gay male community has been grappling with meth addiction in the past few years, and Fenway Community Health has a forum planned for April 26 that the health center hopes will stimulate greater dialogue on meth and the risks that it poses for the community.

The forum, titled "Raw Sex: Barebacking, Meth and Walking the Wildside," will feature two guest speakers from New York. Perry Halkitis, co-director of the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies, and Michael Shernoff, a psychotherapist, have studied meth use and barebacking in the gay male community, and they will share their findings with attendees. Dr. Kenneth Mayer, Fenway's research medical director, will also take part in the discussion.

Among the topics that will be covered are the reasons that gay and bisexual men choose to bareback, the links between meth and gay and bi men's health, bug chasing and whether there is a safe way to bareback, among other topics.

"It's really an attempt for the general community people who are concerned to have their questions answered about these issues," said Mayer.

In terms of the impact of meth on Boston's gay male community, Mayer said Fenway's data suggests the drug is having major consequences for gay men's health.

"Our own data at Fenway clearly show that people who have new STDs in Boston, there's a high prevalence of crystal use," said Mayer.

"Raw Sex: Barebacking, Meth and Walking the Wildside," takes place April 26 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Club Caf .

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