Illinois: Life or Meth Decision; Drug's Soaring Use in Chicago Leads to New Sex Fears

A crystal methamphetamine prevention campaign began in May in Chicago in response to a spike in meth use and higher HIV rates that health workers believe is tied to the drug. Meth-related emergency room visits increased to 3,582 last year, compared to 97 cases in 1994.

Of over 4,000 gay men the Howard Brown Health Center studied, 13 percent used meth, and about one-third combined the drug with risky sex. Of 1,271 patients visiting the Howard Brown STD clinic in 2003, 4.6 percent had used meth within 60 days, compared to 4 percent of 1,345 patients visiting in 2000-2001. Of 565 patients visiting through mid-June this year, 5.7 percent reported recent use, raising concerns about whether drug treatment and education approaches are strong enough.

Stacy Bridges, publisher of Gay Chicago Magazine, heads a group of Chicagoans who launched the "Life or Meth" campaign urging gay meth users to seek treatment. "Life or Meth" is part of the nationwide Crystal Meth Anonymous campaign, structured on Alcoholics Anonymous.

Chicago meth campaigns have been stymied by lack of funding, said Dan Lustig, clinical director of the Haymarket Center. The state's budget for drug treatment programs was cut by almost $6 million between 2001 and 2003, said Tracey Scruggs, state Department of Human Resources spokesperson. The department expects more cuts when the new budget through June 2005 is approved.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office launched an anti-meth drive and publishes MethNet, a Web site with treatment information. But for many meth users, treatment begins and ends in the emergency room.

"ERs are great at identifying users, treating immediate complications and finding referrals," said Dr. Mark Mycyk, clinical toxicologist and attending physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's emergency room. But if an addict is not ready to quit, staff cannot force the patient into detox programs, he said.

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