Life Power Now - for gay men

There are an ever-growing number of recreational drugs in addition to the three commonly accepted staples caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. While many guys will argue that recreational drugs can be used over a long time with no ill effects, I’d encourage you to monitor closely your own behavior and the reactions of you friends and colleagues. Most importantly, please don't drink and drive. We need you to stay around.

Smoking

If you still smoke, stop. Not an original advice but still a sound one. I don’t know why gay men and lesbians should smoke more than the national average but there are several studies showing we do. As someone who has never smoked it’s hard for me to give advice here, just reminding you that you are so much more attractive as a non-smoker. And if you’ve tried quitting before, don’t give up. The average smoker needs to quit and go back four times before he stays smoke free.

For more information on getting ready to quit, quitting and staying quit go to http://www.smokefree.gov

Alcohol

So what about ending the week with Gin-and-Tonic, starting Saturday night with a Cosmopolitan, or the glass of bubbly to go with brunch? Moderate alcohol use is socially widely accepted in western culture, but that changes dramatically when others start to think you are loosing your grip.

If you think that alcohol may be a concern for you, ask yourself these four questions:

• Have you felt you should cut down on your drinking?
• Have people expressed concerns about your drinking?
• Have you felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves, get rid of a hangover, or get the day started?

If you answer “yes”, “sometimes,” or “often” to two or more questions, consider talking to a professional.

Recreational Drugs