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Dear Gay Sexpert, I am a recovering meth user. My rehab experience was really helpful, but very anti-sex. To be honest, the best sex I ever had was on crystal meth. Sobering up has trashed my sexual desire and I am fearful that sex will never be the same.
Answer snip:
Almost every treatment program supporting people to stop using crystal also requires them to be sexually abstinent. It's clear that sex can be so dramatically enhanced by crystal, it's very hard to pull the two apart. But all too often sexual activity gets stigmatized as being part of the destructive chemical itself, and, as a sexologist, I begin to recognize something out of whack in the approach to helping meth users recover.
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As an intern drug counselor and case manager for those in substance abuse, I have worked very closely with those recovering from Crystal. I have found that many programs lack working through safer sex in sobriety and sex triggers. I fear that many agencies do their clients a great injustice by not focusing on sex triggers. Often our clients return to the outside world not appropriately armed with the tools to work through the sexual component of their disease.
ReplyDeleteAs a person in recovery from Crystal myself, I have struggled with the sexual component of meth myself. Separating the drug from my sex drive was not an easy task, but two and a half years later, I maintain a substance-free life, and have incorporated a sex life far better than I ever had on crystal. It took determination, speaking with my therapist openly, and several failed sexual attempts to RE-learn how to have crystal free sex. Now, the challenge is finding others who like the type of sex I do and are crystal-free themselves....
I urge anyone in a treatment type setting to bring these issues of sex and triggers to the group and you'll find it is a common issue many of us in recovery from crystal need to talk about and work through. It has helped me greatly to maintain my program and surround myself with others living a crystal-free life, and openly speak about my sexual urges and triggers to ensure I do not repeat my past.
Crystal-free sex can, AND IS, better sex. Do not fool yourself for long that crystal based sex is the best sex. If you refuse to believe otherwise, you will not be able to move forward.
Good luck...
Toph
Hi Toph,
ReplyDeleteLifelube and Project CRYSP would love to know more about your story and recovery. If you would be interested in sharing more with our readers please contact b.farrand@tpan.com.
Bill