Safer Substance Use

Using substances such as drugs and alcohol can help us not only to cope with everyday life, but also to decrease our inhibitions and allow us to more easily meet and be sexually intimate with potential partners. When and why do you use substances? When your choices about substance use are conscious and informed, you will make healthier decisions about using them. For example, if you are using substances to hide fears or insecurities, have you considered other ways of facing and managing these fears?

If you choose to use substances, be safe and smart about it. Here are a few things to consider. You may know of other ways to minimize the negative impact of substances on your health.

• Be aware of your body. Fatigue, diet, stress, and other factors influence how your body responds to substances. You will not always need the same quantity to achieve your desired impact.
• Most street drugs are not regulated, so not all drugs are the same quality. A safe drug may become very unsafe if it is altered with other chemicals that make a bigger profit for the seller.

• Be aware of what you’re taking in. Some combinations of substances can put you in serious harm. Prescription medications often double the effect of alcohol, meaning that if it’s okay to drink on your meds, you’ll only need half of what you usually drink.
• If the substance(s) you are using increase your inhibitions or decrease your ability to make choices, you may be more likely to put yourself in a situation that increases your chances of getting an STI, or that puts your physical safety and overall well-being at risk. Decide before hand what your limits are, and do everything you can to help yourself remember and practice safer sex and overall safety.
• If you are using needles to inject drugs, do not share any related equipment with another user. This includes not only needles, but cookers, water, filters, and other equipment used to inject. HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and other infections can be spread with reused equipment. You can purchase needles at drug stores, and some places offer free needles with their harm reduction services. Refer to Safer Body Art for information on sterilizing equipment.
• Date rape drugs are still in use. Keep a close eye on your drinks, never leaving them unattended. Go out with a friend who can watch your back and help you if you need it.
• Some substances can simultaneously increase sexual desire and make it more difficult to have an erection or get turned on. Inform yourself about the effects of substances you use.
• It’s no secret to substance providers that GLBTT* people rely on substances more than other populations. If you know a GLBTT* person who is trying to reduce their reliance on alcohol or other substances, try to support them rather than adding to the pressures that they already have to overcome.