On July 13th millions of Glee fans and people alike were stunned and saddened by the loss of actor Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on the popular television series. What makes this more heartbreaking is not only that he died at the young age of 31 but how he actually passed. The autopsy report states that he passed away from a mixed drug toxicity consisting of heroin and alcohol. It was documented that he recently completed a rehab stay between the end of March and mid-April, only the second time in his life that he sought treatment for this matter.
There is a depth to this story that transcends Cory and so many other issues surrounding his death- one in particular being the rapid drug trend that is sweeping the gay community. We see so many ads online promoting PNP (Party N Play) in which gay men hook up with the intention of getting high in the process of. This is a dangerous and toxic element that is only hurting people and not helping them, which is why gay men should really view Cory’s death as a huge wakeup call.
“It is all too common for men in the gay community to experiment with drugs, often at an early age,” says Dr. Edward S Goldberg, MD, who has served the gay community in New York City for the past twenty years. “The most popular drugs these days seem to be crystal meth, GHB, X, and cocaine. Heroin made a comeback a few years back as an inexpensive way to “check-Out” emotionally while getting a euphoric buzz. The way I see it, the biggest problems are crystal meth and heroin due to their nearly-instantaneous addictive potential. I’ve seen success in sobriety with both substances but I’ve seen it not end well far more often than the success I speak of.”
It was never a big story in the media regarding Cory’s drug and alcohol use, mainly because he wasn’t like other celebrities whose chronicles were well-documented by the paparazzi or their recent stint on “Celebrity Rehab”. At times people keep their addiction hidden for whatever reasons need be. In millions of people’s eyes, Cory was a role model. He was under pressure to keep an image in tact that is relatable to the show. People who are under the addiction of drugs may feel the same way, but get so deep into it that it becomes a double life situation that they can’t see their way out of.
“It’s very frustrating when you see someone allow their demons and addictions to take control of their lives”, retired adult film star and gay personality Charlie Harding states. “He allowed his desires and wants for a high to outweigh his self-preservation instinct, his will power and ultimately his common sense”. For the gay men who are dealing with similar problem’s that Cory dealt with, use this as a way to get help and get out of the haze you are presently in. Don’t make a temporary problem a permanent issue.
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