Are You Up To Speed? - by Jason Riggs, October, 2004

A few months ago, I met this hot guy. The minute I saw him, I thought, "I'm going home with him tonight." And then it happened. I couldn't believe that this guy would come on to me. I was ecstatic to end up at his place and I didn't think twice when he told me he was high on speed. He wanted me to try it-he said the sex would be unbelievable and he only played with other partiers. I couldn't say no; besides, I've done other drugs and didn't have a problem with them. We fucked for hours that night. We did things that I never thought I would do, things I hadn't even considered doing. I was just a giant cock and a hungry hole the entire night. I didn't use a condom. I just didn't care and neither did he.

The next day, I felt crappy and I worried about getting HIV. A few weeks later I did it again. It only took a few times doing crystal to undo years of safe sex, and I didn't even consider myself addicted. I was just a recreational crystal user and thought I had it under control. So, I started learning more about crystal and I found some information that I think others like me need to know.
Are You Up to Speed? Some facts to consider if you are up to speed or not:
The reality is that speed use is epidemic among gay and bisexual men in San Francisco. STOP AIDS Project outreach volunteers and staff have found that:
∑ At least 1 out of 5 gay or bi men have used speed in the last six months.
∑ More than half of the gay and bi men at late night venues have used speed.
You do the math, if 1 in 5 gay and bi men use speed and as many as 3 in 10 men who test HIV positive have used speed recently… the odds are pretty high.

Here are more facts, speed and poppers are the two drugs most strongly associated with behavior that puts us at risk for HIV. Those of us on speed are more likely to have more partners, engage in higher risk sex, and use condoms less frequently. In the end, it all points to giving yourself or someone else HIV. That is exactly what is happening to more and more of us.
For me, it isn't the effect of the drug on my body, although that's not pretty after a lot of partying. It's what I do when I use speed, even once in a while. Or, really, what I don't do. I don't talk about HIV status or condom use. I have no interest in meeting a person; I only want a body. And there is nothing I won't do. All there is is sex. And later anxiety and guilt. Did I get HIV? Did I give it to someone else?

Sometimes I just want to party and unwind after a long week. You probably never even think about it because you don't use speed often. It's great-the dancing, the sex, the feeling of pure energy. But even occasional speed use can have major repercussions. If I hear one more story from a friend about a guy who just went out for the weekend… and then tested HIV positive.
Do you really want to have a night out that ends in stressing about your next HIV test? Or morning-after guilt that you might have given someone else HIV? 

Are you up for this? Are You Up to Speed? Think about your use. Stay back from the edge. Make your decisions before you get high.

The story above represents real stories we've heard repeatedly in focus groups on speed use here at the STOP AIDS Project. Over the next several months, the STOP AIDS Project is launching a social marketing campaign, "Are You Up to Speed?" The campaign is aimed at recreational speed users, those who are considering using speed, and those who need reinforcement in their decision not to use speed. For more information go to www.stopaids.org.