close
Hi. It looks like we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other, and I know you’re unsure about commitment...
But all it takes is one little click to view photos and enter giveaways.  

Go on, do it for both of us... Register now!*

Already registered? Log in.

*SCENE PHOTOS: If you’re already registered on another site, log into its scene photos by clicking ’Scene Pix’ on the homepage.
Toppanel
 

LATEST NEWS

Mardi Gras ends on high

The 2010 Mardi Gras festival ended with a bang in Sydney on Saturday night

Greens see red over ‘deal’ claims

Senator Hanson-Young has denied the Greens did a deal to limit debate on her Marriage Equality Bill.

MPs raise concern over sodomy trial

Federal parliamentarians have raised their concerns with Malaysia’s diplomatic representative in Canberra over the second sodomy trial of Malaysia’s opposition leader.Fifteen Senators and 41 MPs signed the letter.  

Rally for Marriage Rights

The Equal Love campaign will be holding a rally this Saturday, March 13.

Adelaide boy wins AXN model comp

Adelaide’s Adrian Mendo has been named as the winner of the 2010 AXN Australia’s Next Gay Cover Model Competition.

Parenting study seeks more participants

A study of same-sex attracted parents is looking for more participants

100%
-
+
6
Show options
Inaction over drugs making men unhappy PDF Print E-mail
Written by Reg Domingo   
Monday, 11 January 2010 04:13
The drug culture in the gay scene, and the apparent lack of action towards addressing the issue, is making more gay men unhappy, a survey has found.

Results from the online survey involving 135 gay and bisexual men showed that the drug problem in the community was impacting on gay men’s health and wellbeing, with many respondents saying not enough was being done to address the problem.

“One of the interesting things we found were comments on the current social and community issues affecting gay men’s health and wellbeing,” said Principal Researcher Greg Millan.  

“And many responded by saying the community is not facing to the drug problem that it’s got. People know there’s a drug problem and they’re feeling that we’re not doing anything about it. That’s really interesting.”

This is highlighted in a range of comments provided by respondents. One participant said his health and wellbeing was being impacted on by “the apparent reluctance of the gay community to tackle widespread illicit drug use in the gay community”.

Another respondent said: “In the community at large – recreational drugs. I have managed to move away from them but many if not all of my friends are into it. From past experience they can be very draining a take a large toll on sleep and work”

The results are part of an ongoing research project conducted by the Men’s Health Information and Research Centre in the University of Western Sydney. The survey was conducted in 2009 between July and December.

It also found that lack of equality, acceptance of gay lifestyles and relationship recognition also had an effect of gay men’s health and wellbeing. A small number of respondents highlighted homophobia and discrimination towards gay seniors in the community.

Millan added that some gay men also said that the pressure to become more involved with the gay marriage debate was making them unhappy.

“We had a lot of people say things like, ‘Gay marriage – I don’t give a hoot and I don’t like the pressure put on me to take it on as an issue. It’s stressing me out’. So that’s kind of interesting about the relationship debate.”

It is the second report in the Gay Men’s Thinking and Action around Health and Wellbeing research project, with the first survey conducted in 2000.

“Back in 2000, there was lot more emphasis on HIV, which isn’t apparent anymore,” Millan said. “In fact, HIV got a pretty low mention in Stage 2.”

Millan said that in 2009, more gay men identified health and wellbeing as being both physical and holistic.

“I think there’s been a shift towards wellbeing and a more holistic look at health. Now, people talked a lot more about things like meditation and yoga, as well as the spiritual and emotional parts of wellbeing. And all of that wasn’t around in 2000.”

“I think most gay men are now more aware of other things that they can do to improve their health and wellbeing.”

As for what made people feel unhealthy, one in four responded with feelings of anxiety and depression.

“What we need is more on the ground workshops for gay men and depression," Millan said. "There are a couple already but I think we can do a lot more in that field.”

The results will be compared with other research into gay men’s health and wellbeing and will be presented at the Health in Difference conference in April.
Comments (3)add comment
ugg boots
written by ugg boots , February 03, 2010


Your writing is very elegant, very vivid and lively, I really like you, wish you continued to write better articles, I will often try to concern, oh!
ugg boots for cheap
ugg boots on sale

report abuse
vote down
vote up

Votes: +0

disocunt MBT walking shoes
written by MBT online , February 27, 2010

Wearing MBT shoes provides many pro-body benefits: this is the result of an increasing number of international studies supporting the numerous health benefits of the "anti-shoe ". Here is a excited place-----discount MBT shoes
report abuse
vote down
vote up

Votes: +0

ed hardy
written by ed hardy , March 19, 2010

The all star jerseyare excellent products suitable for year-round wear. Many people all know Ugg boots uk? and know they are very

popular. But less people know that the Australian brand found international recognition in the 1970s when an Australian surfer named Brian Smith took several pairs of Egg

ed hardy clothing to the United States – soon the boots were a fashionable choice with the California surfer set, and

these days are even seen in fashion shows of the worlds finest designers.

report abuse
vote down
vote up

Votes: +0


Write comment
smaller | bigger
password
 

busy