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Lust, Men, and Meth: A Gay Man's Guide to Sex and Recovery
Lust, Men, and A Gay Man's Guide to Sex and Recovery provides insight for gay men struggling with the issues of sex and recovery, and for the professionals who work with them. The reader is equipped not only with essential information on the problems of drugs and sexuality, but also with solutions in the form of tools and resources that will support him along his path. The book is unique in its blend of therapeutic perspectives from addiction and sex therapy, from which Dr. Fawcett has integrated the most useful concepts and tools. Additionally, detailed case studies will assist clinicians who, in Dr. Fawcett's many trainings for professionals, have asked for material on substance use, identity, and sexuality in gay-identified men. These insights and tools will be helpful not only in the early stages of sobriety, but for an individual's continuing personal evolution of recovery as well.
The book is divided into three parts to help guide the reader through this multifaceted topic. The first part, "The Perfect Storm," examines how, through the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters, methamphetamine has phenomenal power to change one's mood and entice the user to ingest ever-increasing amounts of the drug. The role of excitement, risk, and even boredom are explored, along with the vulnerabilities of some gay men who find themselves feeling unattractive, left out, or disconnected and utilize meth to soothe these feelings. Finally, this part of the book explores the unfortunate intersection of meth, the gay community, and the rise of dangerous health concerns such as HIV/AIDS.
The second part, "Exploring the Sexual Universe," provides a sex therapist's perspective on sexual desire and how eroticism develops in the brain, an elaborate world of sexual templates, scripts, and themes that methamphetamine penetrates and distorts. This section also highlights exciting discoveries of neurobiology and the direct impact of the brain's plasticity on the profound problem of the fusion of meth and sex. Dopamine is the central player in the drama of both the feelings produced by drug use and the consequent hijacking of sexual desire. New discoveries about the brain's ability to change and adapt in response to compulsive behaviors shed light both on the harmful consequences of drug use and clues about recovery.
The final part, "Restoring Your Life," explores the process of recovery from this drug in detail, with chapters on specific skills derived from thousands of hours working with clients, managing of feelings, and rethinking perspectives on sex. The reader will find that, with increased distance from the drug, such powerful emotions as vulnerability, anxiety, or shame, which once were buried by meth use, now provide direction to promote emotional transformations that ultimately enrich both the sexual and emotional life. Finally, the reader is guided in rebuilding relationships with himself, his loved ones, and the community as he continues in recovery.
Gay men and their helping professionals will find the information in these pages illuminating and motivating as they create lives of recovery from addiction as well as fulfilling and joyous sexual expression.
The book is divided into three parts to help guide the reader through this multifaceted topic. The first part, "The Perfect Storm," examines how, through the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters, methamphetamine has phenomenal power to change one's mood and entice the user to ingest ever-increasing amounts of the drug. The role of excitement, risk, and even boredom are explored, along with the vulnerabilities of some gay men who find themselves feeling unattractive, left out, or disconnected and utilize meth to soothe these feelings. Finally, this part of the book explores the unfortunate intersection of meth, the gay community, and the rise of dangerous health concerns such as HIV/AIDS.
The second part, "Exploring the Sexual Universe," provides a sex therapist's perspective on sexual desire and how eroticism develops in the brain, an elaborate world of sexual templates, scripts, and themes that methamphetamine penetrates and distorts. This section also highlights exciting discoveries of neurobiology and the direct impact of the brain's plasticity on the profound problem of the fusion of meth and sex. Dopamine is the central player in the drama of both the feelings produced by drug use and the consequent hijacking of sexual desire. New discoveries about the brain's ability to change and adapt in response to compulsive behaviors shed light both on the harmful consequences of drug use and clues about recovery.
The final part, "Restoring Your Life," explores the process of recovery from this drug in detail, with chapters on specific skills derived from thousands of hours working with clients, managing of feelings, and rethinking perspectives on sex. The reader will find that, with increased distance from the drug, such powerful emotions as vulnerability, anxiety, or shame, which once were buried by meth use, now provide direction to promote emotional transformations that ultimately enrich both the sexual and emotional life. Finally, the reader is guided in rebuilding relationships with himself, his loved ones, and the community as he continues in recovery.
Gay men and their helping professionals will find the information in these pages illuminating and motivating as they create lives of recovery from addiction as well as fulfilling and joyous sexual expression.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2015
79 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 26, 2017
David Fawcett has woven so many missing pieces of my life together in this book. After five years of trying to understand the basis of my addiction, I finally feel like I have a grasp on where to go next to make things right with my past and live a clean and happy life. Anyone struggling with any kind of addiction, or those trying to help someone with addiction, should read this book.
February 1, 2022
It's nice to see some material on this matter as it's almost taboo to discuss this as sex and drugs are a standard in the gay community that it's hard to see a problem when everyone is doing it. It helps call out things recovering addicts may be dealing with and it helped me identify issues I was having that I didn't know what it was. Highly recommended for recovering addicts (can be triggering) even MORE recommended for therapists and psychologists helping patients recovering form meth addiction.
July 29, 2023
Crystal Meth gets hidden in certain anonymizing groups based on Alcoholics Anonymous. Drug addiction needn't be anonymous but deserves to be understood. Meth is intensely pleasurable, shame provoking, and addictive. This book sheds light on the neurobiological underpinnings and impressioning system that most male meth users will experience: sex merges with drug merges with sex... but this awareness will light the Path out.
November 13, 2025
Great book for anyone navigating recovery from meth & those that work with them. It gave solid explanations on the science & the cognitive changes one experiences from meth use. This may not be the best book for someone who is fresh in their recovery, as some of the earlier parts of the book can be triggering. I still recommend it for anyone who wants some additional tools in their recovery toolbox.
September 6, 2019
Essential for users and those who care
However much you think you know, odds are this book will give you new insight into meth and its extraordinary (but beatable) hold. This drug has wreaked havoc in the gay community and Fawcett offers clear explanations as to why. A fascinating and eye opening read.
However much you think you know, odds are this book will give you new insight into meth and its extraordinary (but beatable) hold. This drug has wreaked havoc in the gay community and Fawcett offers clear explanations as to why. A fascinating and eye opening read.
June 2, 2018
Interesting Insight...
There was interesting insight from the view of a medical professional treating and helping those who come to terms with their use of methamphetamine. Was a good read and forwarded it on to a loved one heavy into an addiction.
Suggest reading it
There was interesting insight from the view of a medical professional treating and helping those who come to terms with their use of methamphetamine. Was a good read and forwarded it on to a loved one heavy into an addiction.
Suggest reading it
June 2, 2018
Excellent read for any gay man in recovery from meth use it can be a bit academic at times, but even if one chose to skip over those parts, I would still highly recommend.
May 29, 2022
Very accessible discussion of clinical topics. An interesting read for anyone, and likely highly reassuring for anyone in recovery.
January 23, 2025
An important topic that is well told.
August 12, 2025
Stigmatizing language (but, published in 2015) and repetitive, but informative!
November 13, 2015
Although it's written from the psychologist's point of view (something I hate because the real people tend to get lost in the psychologist's words), the words of the men using meth do come through. I've only read it the once, so I've basically mapped the book preparatory to a more thorough reading. What I found especially refreshing was the lack of reference to 12-step programs. As far as I'm aware it's the first book of its kind and as such merely provides and opener, a task it performs admirably. I felt sufficiently good about the book to suggest it to a friend who's trying to get off mephedrone...
July 3, 2016
Great book! I bought it from the author at a conference. Must read for social workers , psychologists and mental and health practitioners of all kinds. I think it's good for parents too.
It's happening around us.
It's happening around us.
October 12, 2016
A strait (LOL) forward read chronicling the realms of methamphetamine addiction among the gay community. Poignant and insightful if this is an area of interest to you.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews