California: Porn Actors Set to Star in Meth Campaign

Earlier this month, the San Francisco-based Stonewall Project launched the "Hot Sex Without Crystal? Hell Yes!" social marketing campaign. Popular gay adult-film actors were enlisted for the effort, which seeks to break the link in some men's minds between sexual fulfillment and crystal methamphetamine use.

The campaign ran a full-page ad in Gloss magazine, followed by a feature article and an ad in The Advocate. Posters will be placed in the city's historically gay Castro neighborhood.

The ad directs people to Stonewall's Web site Tweaker.org. Matt Cole, an adult-film actor featured in the ad, said, "I have witnessed first-hand the effects of crystal on my friends and the gay community and many of the poor personal choices we make when we are high on drugs."

"Meth has been a huge issue in the gay community for decades," said Michael Siever, director of Stonewall. "One of the biggest issues for so many guys is that their sexuality gets hijacked by crystal meth."

Dr. Willi McFarland, HIV/AIDS surveillance and epidemiology director with the city's Department of Public Health, said recent data show meth use has decreased significantly among men who have sex with men (MSM), though this was less evident among HIV-positive men. In addition, new HIV infections among city MSM were down 21 percent from 2001 to 2005, even though the population increased. Crystal-related hospital admissions dropped 67 percent last year, and demand for dependence-related services was up. Community service providers, however, are not convinced these changes indicate long-term trends.

Siever said the drop in meth use may indicate anti-meth campaigns are working and that people are wary of the drug after watching it ravage community members. But there is also the possibility that as stigma against meth increases, some who still use the drug may simply be lying to agency and health care workers.

Back to other news for January 26, 2007