Friend to Friend Sponsors

"Buy Crystal Get HIV & Syphilis Free" Ad

Friend to Friend is proud to sponsor two full page ads in The Letter newspaper that we hope will cause some folks in our community to stop and thank about the serious connection between using crystal meth and increased risk of STD infection. 

Background:

In January, 2004, Peter Staley launched a personal ad campaign to bring much needed attention to an epidemic of crystal meth use among gay men, leading to increased rates of HIV and syphilis infections. Using $6,000 of his own money, he paid for six phone booth kiosk ads in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York that said "Huge Sale, Buy Crystal, Get HIV Free!" He also came out publicly as a recovering crystal meth addict.

Within days, the ads, along with the issues they raised, became a major news story, with coverage in The New York Times and on all three local TV stations. The New York Daily News mentioned the ads in a lead editorial called "Crystal Meth's Clear and Present Danger," and the city's health officials and political leaders began to respond.

We were inspired by Peter's campaign and asked his permission to use and modify the ad.  Peter eagerly agreed to donate use of the ad.
 

Did you know?  

• Meth is more toxic than crack

• More addictive than heroin
• Gay and bi men on crystal are twice as likely to have an STD than guys who don't use crystal, this includes syphilis and gonorrhea.
• Guys who use crystal are four times more likely to get HIV than those who don't.
• Crystal is made of battery acid, drano and propane or starter fluid.

If you are HIV positive

• If you are HIV positive, you should know that Crystal speeds up the rate of HIV replication.
• Crystal reduces the effectiveness of HIV meds (HAART).
• Some protease inhibitors like Agenerase increase the amount of amphetamine in your blood stream, putting you at risk for an overdose.
• The lifestyle connected to crystal use can exhaust your immune system and affect your ability to take medications as prescribed.
• Using crystal may affect your decisions. You may decide not to use condoms. If you have sex without a condom, you are likely to transmit the virus.

If you are HIV negative:

• Research has connected the rise of HIV infection rates amongst gay men to crystal use
• Crystal is known to impair judgment and can lead to unsafe sex... and HIV.
• Crystal can complicate your decisions on condom use

See Tweaker.org for a diagram of the body, and roll your mouse over the body parts to learn more.

(Information above excerpted from "A Few Things to Know About Speed" published by the SF DPH and adapted from a Bay Area Reporter article and from Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York.)