Suicide Tuesday - Duncan Osborne

Crystal methamphetamine, also known as "crystal meth," has rocked national news headlines as the often deadly party drug of choice for gay and bisexual men. The recent media blitz around the so-called "AIDS supervirus" was only one of virtually thousands of earlier stories that laid the blame for an outbreak of new HIV transmission among gay men on impaired judgment brought about by crystal meth use. The low-priced stimulant?which can be snorted, smoked, ingested, or injected?increases its user's heart rate, blood pressure, and stamina, while decreasing the need for food and sleep. Health experts estimate that 22 percent of all gay men have tried crystal meth at least once. Heterosexuals, including teenage girls, have also joined the millions of crystal meth users and addicts. In Suicide Tuesday, Duncan Osborne, the leading journalist on the topic of gay men and crystal meth, offers a critical, clear-eyed look on the history of crystal meth, its effect on gay men, its alleged link to HIV transmission, the gay community's response to the reported epidemic, as well as the media's role in fostering public awareness but also sex panic among gay people.