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Gay News: A Home Office funded report claims that gay men and lesbian are more likely to put their health at risk through illegal drug misuse.
By: Nigel Robinson
Gays are early adopters - including drugs
Gays are early adopters - including drugs
Gays more at risk from drug misuse than straight people
The report, The Impact of Drugs on Different Minority Groups by the UK Drug Policy Commission has discovered that more gay men and lesbians take illegal recreational drugs than their heterosexual counterparts.
They are also more likely to misuse other drugs such as steroids or Viagra.
Gay men and lesbians are perceived to be “early adopters”, and it seems that this also includes illegal drugs.
However, because current drug policy focuses on heroin and crack cocaine, the gay community is in danger of effectively being ignored.
The report also concluded that misuse of drugs could be involved with risky sexual behaviour, leading to exposure to HIV.
The report advocates building stronger links between the gay community and health officials to identify risks before drug misuse becomes widespread.
It also suggests new approaches to prevention, including social networking sites, to change drug use among the gay community.
