Drug Use @ The Baths: Part 1

Drug Use @ The Baths: Part 1

The following is a true story. The customer in Room 3-1-6 was late—on real overtime! He checked in around 8 PM the previous night, and now Noon was approaching, just in time for the lunch special. Generally, there is a grace period for customers who run overtime for an hour or so. However, the occupant of Room 3-1-6 had been in that room for 16 hours, four of which were overtime, as he rented a 12-hour room. The desk attendant repeatedly announced via the loudspeaker that Room 3-1-6 was on overtime. So he should either checkout or renew. For hours, there was no response to the frequent calls to checkout; only silence from the floor attendant’s repeated knocking on the door.

Finally, the floor attendant decided it was time to burst in and wake up the delinquent customer. It’s not uncommon for customers to stay late for extended periods. The occupant of Room 3-1-6 was probably still sleeping off his hangover from the previous night’s partying. Having a 12-hour room provides customers with in-and-out privileges. He could have gone bar-hopping before returning to the baths to crash. The floor attendant knocked a final time, announcing it was time to check out or renew. Hearing no response, the floor attendant inserted his master key and tried to open the door. But it would not open. Thinking it was a jammed door, the floor attendant started pushing and, to his horror, realized that wasn’t the case. The customer was deceased, slumped against the door. The autopsy report later stated that the death happened around 10:00 PM. The customer lay lifeless in his room for a duration of 14 hours. Considering he was found against a closed door, it seems like the customer was making a feeble attempt to save himself. Numerous men engaged in sexual activity in the rooms surrounding him, leaving the customer to die in silence.

This little vignette illustrates the reckless drug use prevalent in the gay community. Using illegal substances seems to be a part of mainstream gay culture. It is as common as having that cup of coffee in the morning. As a gay man, you see drugs taken at clubs, bars, and private parties. So why should anyone be surprised that drugs are rampant in a bathhouse? To their credit, bathhouses generally prohibit the consumption of any recreational drugs used on the premises. Upon entering any American bathhouse, you will notice a sign stating, “We do not allow the use of alcohol and drugs.” But how can the staff monitor what goes on behind closed doors? Entering a bathhouse doesn’t require a strip search. Gay saunas prioritize privacy, and we should respect that. In addition, half the staff uses drugs recreationally in their personal lives, so why should they judge someone else? But when a bathhouse has to call the paramedics every Saturday night (due to a possible overdose), you know there is a problem.

These two essays will provide a comprehensive analysis of the drug and alcohol scene at the baths, revealing a complex and unsettling reality. This world consists of drugs, alcohol, and mindless sex. Remember, gay baths are a fantasy world where gay men can do whatever they want. Within those walls, nothing is sacred.

Of all the drugs consumed at the gay baths, marijuana seems the least dangerous. Gay men consider it so minor that it is not unusual to witness customers and bathhouse staff sharing a joint. The scent of marijuana often hits you as soon as you walk in, as you can smell the odor from individual rooms, even walking down the halls. After a three- or four-hour marathon of sex, some couples will relax in the afterglow by sharing a joint. Some gay men even light up before heading to the baths. It helps to loosen them up, so they do not feel inhibited. So, to get in the right frame of mind, they either use cannabis or take a few shots of alcohol.

Rarely have I witnessed someone so inebriated in the baths that they crash into walls and furniture. Drunks at the gay baths are a business liability, as they will drive customers away. If someone shows up intoxicated and wants to get in, the desk attendant will likely turn them away. Many bathhouses lack liquor licenses, making alcohol consumption strictly prohibited. However, this does not prevent men from openly and discreetly consuming booze during their stay. You will not see guys holding a vodka bottle or beer while walking up and down the halls. Instead, they will be carrying plastic bottles containing alcohol disguised as soda. The plastic bottles are filled with transparent liquid, so you cannot tell if it is liquor. The customer’s locker always contains more alcohol, allowing them to refill their empty soda bottle.

Most gay men who drink in the baths can hold their beer. Over the years, I’ve seen drunk men passed out. Alternatively, you may witness intoxicated men sitting in the lounge, speaking incoherently to anyone who will listen. Some gay saunas do have a liquor license and allow alcohol consumption. However, their liquor license only permits alcohol consumption in the bar area, not in private rooms.

Amyl nitrate, also known as poppers, is the most popular minor drug among gay men. It’s a substance that increases sexual pleasure. Poppers are also known for their ability to increase the intensity of an orgasm and relax the anal area during sexual intercourse, which is particularly beneficial for exclusive bottoms. You can understand why men adore their poppers and refuse to leave home without them. Some men will even wear a small bottle of poppers on a chain around their neck, like a necklace. With the number of quickies happening at the baths, you need to be ready for any encounter when you least expect it. I even see more men carrying around poppers than condoms! Poppers are technically illegal without a prescription. Nonetheless, many bathhouses and sex stores sell them. You can even buy them online by searching the word “poppers.” However, when you mix poppers or other drugs, it can be a lethal cocktail. Poppers, combined with either Viagra or Crystal Meth, can drop blood pressure to dangerously low levels.

Now we get to the severe drugs consumed at the baths: Crystal Meth (with fentanyl mixed in), GHB, Ecstasy, Special K, Speed, and Crack Cocaine. While men consume marijuana and poppers openly at the baths, they consume these hard-core drugs more discreetly. But let’s return to Viagra for a moment and consider why this drug is so common in the club scene. After all, it is associated with older men, and these young twinks certainly do not need help in that department. But long-term use of Ecstasy (also known as “E”) or Crystal Meth can cause erectile dysfunction. Taking Viagra solves that problem and actually intensifies its effects when combined with other party drugs. Ecstasy in combination with GHB (also known as “G”) and Special K (also known as “K”). How do drug users distinguish between safe and unsafe combinations? Someone once told me that when using party drugs, you can mix a drug with a vowel (E) and a drug with consonants (G & K), but you shouldn’t mix the consonant drugs (G & K) at all!

But by far, the most commonly used drug at the baths (other than poppers) is Crystal Meth. It is similar to Ecstasy (an amphetamine), as Crystal Meth is methamphetamine—hence the word “meth” in Crystal Meth. Ecstasy and Crystal Meth make you hyper and talkative, cause intense pleasure, and suppress appetite. But methamphetamines (crystal meth) are much more potent than amphetamines (ecstasy), which is why meth is so popular. In addition, meth can give men the body they have always wanted. How? As mentioned, meth suppresses one’s appetite. Many young gay men who use meth become anorexic, with only 5% body fat.

If these gay men take GHB instead (remember, you DO NOT mix GHB with Meth), this drug allegedly stimulates growth hormones, acting as an anabolic steroid. Therefore, gay men can achieve a muscular physique without engaging in any physical activity. However, exercise is often the last thing on many people’s minds. Their top priorities are club drugs, circuit parties, and party & play (also known as PNP). The irony about PNP is that taking all these drugs (like Crystal Meth) causes erectile dysfunction. Therefore, these drug users experience high levels of sexual arousal but have a limp cock. People even refer to this phenomenon as “Crystal Dick.” Which causes most drug users to wind up being the recipients of anal sex in all these Chem Sex encounters, as they can’t achieve an erection. However, PNP men often use Viagra in conjunction with Crystal Meth to achieve an erect cock, a practice that is not recommended.

We now turn our attention to the safety aspect of using party substances. I do not recommend doing drugs; in fact, I am VERY ANTI-DRUG. However, all the moralizing and finger-pointing won’t deter gay men from using these substances. Therefore, gay men should educate themselves on what to do in the event that they or a drug associate overdoses. First, the following five signs indicate when someone is overdosing:

One: Shallow breathing
Two: Clammy and cool skin
Three: The inability to wake up or fall asleep.
Four: Small Pupils
Fifth: The body becomes limp.

If you are going to be doing drugs with someone, ALWAYS carry Naloxone with you, as those drugs might contain fentanyl. Naloxone is a tool that has the ability to rapidly save the life of someone who overdoses, as it counteracts the effects of opioids. This medication only works on opioid-related overdoses; it will do no harm if the overdose is non-opioid-related. If you plan to use Naloxone with someone else, ensure that both of you are familiar with its use. It is available either as an easy-to-use nasal spray or you can inject it like an EpiPen, so anyone can administer it. If someone you are with has an overdose, it is important that you administer Naloxone and call 911 immediately, as the person needs medical attention no matter what. Do not be afraid to call for help. Most likely, authorities will not charge you with drug possession because they prioritize saving someone’s life over busting someone for narcotics. Most jurisdictions have what is known as the “Good Samaritan Law,” meaning that if a person does the right thing, they will be immune from prosecution. Since most pharmacies offer Naloxone without a prescription, there’s no reason not to get it. If the pharmacy in your area does not offer this drug, other organizations will provide it, no questions asked. However, it is up to you to seek out Naloxone for your own safety. Before using drugs, make sure your partner commits to administer Naloxone if you overdose.

However, Naloxone only works if you have a buddy with whom you are doing drugs. If you are getting high alone or locked in your room, you cannot administer Naloxone to yourself if you pass out and start to overdose. The best way to stay safe (other than not using drugs) is to test the drugs before taking them. We refer to these as fentanyl test strips. Don’t rush out and buy these strips online, as you don’t know their accuracy. It is best to seek advice from gay men’s health organizations to determine which test strips are the best to buy. How do these test strips work? Put a small amount of the drug you’re going to take in water, mix it, and dip the strip. The strip will display the potency of the fentanyl and any contaminants that could cause an overdose. No fentanyl-containing drugs should be taken, as this addictive drug can cause an overdose. Bottom line: If you test any drug that reveals fentanyl, flush it down the toilet immediately. Yes, you are flushing money down the drain, but trust me, it is worth it. You don’t want to risk an overdose, and you especially don’t want to become addicted to fentanyl.

There are a variety of reasons why drug use is so rampant. The leading cause is peer pressure and the need to feel accepted by the gay community. Especially with Twinks (younger gay men), drug usage is a popular trend within the social context of being young, out, and gay. When you consume these drugs, you experience a profound high that leaves you feeling like you could dance all night long. However, some men use drugs for entirely different reasons. They do not feel like they fit into the gay community. So they use drugs to numb their pain instead of facing their demons.

On the one hand, they carry this enormous sense of isolation. However, they also experience intense lust for another man. These men can temporarily feel wonderful about becoming intimate with another man by getting high—without anxiety, self-questioning, or guilt. It is just a temporary escape from the pain and misery. For the remaining drug users, getting high serves as a means to connect with their fellow users. As a result, it exposes these men to a large number of homeless addicts.

The drug use at the baths happens very late at night, courtesy of Twinks, who party hard and into the night. They begin the night by taking a hit of some drug. It seems to be the general rule; you cannot start the evening without a buzz. Then they go from the clubs to the bars. They gather with their companions and persist in consuming more alcohol and drugs as they dance through the night. The bars close early in the morning, and many gay men head to the baths. But they aren’t there to sleep it off. It is a post-party—a somewhat risky, sexually explicit post-party.

After midnight, many bathhouses turn the music on at full blast (to discourage sleepovers). However, for many who are high, hearing that loud, gyrating dance music has the opposite effect. The music seems to get everyone in the mood to continue the party. These men are so high on different combinations of drugs and alcohol that high-risk sex is not unusual. Crystal Meth (mixed with fentanyl) and Crack Cocaine will cause the user to experience such intense sexual euphoria that it becomes impossible to imagine engaging in sexual activity without feeling high. Being so high frees gay men from the burdensome worry of practicing safe sex. At that point, they can recreate the freewheeling days of the 1960s and 1970s. They can have sex with anyone and do anything without worrying about the consequences.

Despite the abundance of free-spirited sexual activity, it is not uncommon to observe men in public taking another dose of Crystal Meth or GHB (which is highly addictive). They are feeling high and do not care what people think. You often witness guys bouncing off the walls, high on substances, or passing out on one of the lounge chairs during the early morning hours. At the same time, you may hear scores of men engaging in group sex in their rooms. The bathhouse staff really cannot monitor what is going on. The staff is excessively occupied with checking people out and turning over rooms, as the line outside the bathhouse continues to grow longer. After 2 AM is the most active and best moneymaking time for the baths. The bars and clubs close, so the party must continue somewhere. You may ask why a bathhouse will let these intoxicated men enter. The desk attendant typically refuses entry to anyone who appears to be under the influence. So, to get around that rule, these Twinks take a different approach. They purchase a room before going out to club-hop. This ensures they won’t face refusal upon their return, as they’ve already made their payment. Plus, they need not worry about getting a room if the bathhouse becomes 100% booked later in the evening. They secured their spot by paying in advance.

The 2 AM crowd also consists of men who have failed to find a partner at the bars. These guys have been hanging out at these taverns all night, looking for someone to pick up. If they fail to take someone home by closing time, they go to the gay baths to have sex with anyone they can find. Around 3 or 4 AM, the crowd transforms into a mix of club-hopping Twinks and middle-aged bar-type men eager to engage in sexual activities. No wonder a lineup always stretches around the corner at 2 a.m. every morning.

After all the partying and non-stop sex, these younger gay men finally crash into bed and sleep it off, hopefully, in the room they purchased. But, unfortunately, they wake up in a stupor sometime in the afternoon. Some even wake up finding someone unfamiliar in their bed. It is even worse if four or five guys are in your bed, and you have no idea how they got there. Though these Twinks are tired, sore, and strung out, they are ready to do it again. But most of these hard-core party guys know their limits. They have jobs, pay rent, and are aware of their responsibilities. By Monday morning, they are exhausted and need the rest of the week to recuperate. So why does it take a week to recover from a weekend of partying?

Long-term use of Crystal Meth can damage serotonin neurons in the brain. Serotonin is a critical neurochemical that regulates mood, emotion, learning, memory, sleep, and pain. Crystal meth can injure serotonin neurons, causing a variety of behavioral and cognitive consequences and impairing memory. After a weekend of partying, you are in a daze because the drugs have fried the serotonin in your brain. Although serotonin can regenerate, it is not a natural process and may not grow back. Many young gay men limit their partying to weekends. But for some, it has gotten out of hand, which is the dark side of gay bathhouses. This is the second part of the essay. Click Here