GAY CULTURE: London Gay Scene + Drug Use

I've just read a couple of very interesting articles over at PinkNews, commenting on London's gay scene, and the drug use that comes alongside it - and whether it is a form of self-harm within the gay community. A more recent article addresses NAT's (National AIDS Trust) urgent call for London councils to tackle drug use within the gay community. They also link the use of drugs to the sharp rise in the numbers of gay men diagnosed with HIV.

"According to the most recent figures from the Health Protection Agency, 3,010 gay and bisexual men tested positive for HIV in 2011, the highest ever number of HIV diagnoses among the group."

They're an interesting read to say the least. It's known that drugs come hand-in-hand with clubbing - among the gay scene particularly, and opinion can vary greatly as to whether this is a positive or not. There does need to be the sensibility to protect yourself and others however; both with the sex and the use of drugs that is an inevitable part of gay culture.

Remember to get tested roughly every six months and always use protection.

Terrence Higgins Trust | NHS Gay Health