Georgia: Recent Meth Deaths Spark Community Forum

Relatives and partners of several local gay men who have died recently after using crystal methamphetamine are scheduled to speak at a community forum in Atlanta on Feb. 15. The Atlanta Meth Task Force is organizing the gathering.

Among the participants will be relatives of Josh Williams, an Atlanta man who was found dead on Jan. 2 after an apparent meth overdose. He was 32. "I don't think a lot of people are aware of just how deadly this drug is," said Heath Williams, Josh's older brother.

According to his family, Josh Williams was making $80,000-$120,000 a year at a hair salon before he began injecting meth in 2004. He eventually lost his job, condo, and car. After one of his two attempts at rehab, Williams recalled in an e-mail the life he lived while sleeping on his drug dealer's floor: "His house was like a revolving door for users and soon-to-be addicts. I began to team up with him and host these hot sex parties with slamming [injecting meth] being at the forefront, and the focal point for every party."

During his last attempt at sobriety, Williams spoke to 250 high school students and described the dangers of meth. "I don't want anyone's pity, but do want someone to learn from my story what crystal meth can do to your life," he wrote in an e-mail to a friend.

The crystal meth forum will begin at 8 p.m. at Outright Bookstore & Coffeehouse, 991 Piedmont Ave. Telephone 404-607-0082.

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