A disturbingly honest documentary about crystal-meth addiction and HIV screened June 19 at the Center on Halsted.
The film 'Rock Bottom: Gay Men & Meth,' an intense documentary about several gay men addicted to crystal meth, was shown, followed by a discussion with local health practitioners and the film's director, Jay Corcoran. 'Rock Bottom' focuses largely on the drug's relationship to sex, sexuality and HIV/AIDS. It was released about two years ago, but never shown in Chicago.
Prior to the screening, director Corcoran discussed the inspiration behind 'Rock Bottom,' which is his third film about HIV/AIDS and gay men. According to Corcoran, three years ago, his friend was hospitalized because of complications from meth use.
'It brought all those memories back of the late '80s in New York City,' Corcoran told the audience. Seeing is friend in the hospital made him wonder: 'What have we learned in the past 15 years?' He said he couldn't articulate what he was feeling, so he picked up a camera and starting filming.
Corcoran followed seven gay men who used crystal for roughly two and a half years. At first, he said, people warned him not to do the film, fearing it would give Republicans and conservatives fuel.
'I feel to stay silent is even worse,' Corcoran said.
A panel discussion between local health practitioners and Corcoran followed the film.
Howard Brown Health Center co-founder Dr. David Ostrow said that unlike other films on meth that either 'glamorize or demonize' the drug, he felt 'Rock Bottom' showed the reality of meth addition. For Ostrow, the film pointed out the necessity of primary prevention, which means preventing people from trying meth in the first place.
Howard Brown's Recovering with Pride program staff psychotherapist Dr. Lisa Rivitz called the film 'powerful and balanced.' She said that the clients she sees at Howard Brown usually haven't lost everything, contrary to popular belief. Rivitz was also pleased the film focused on the connection between sex and meth, an issue that many clients have with the drug.
Dr. Kevin Osten, of Lakeshore Hospital's VALEO recovery program, stressed the importance of the documentary's message of hope. 'The greatest service to clients is to not make them feel bad about relapse,' Osten said. 'We should celebrate that they are back again and alive and willing to try it all again,' he added.
During a Q&A portion following the panel discussion, participants touched on various topics, such as the number of people who know individuals who use meth only a handful of times with no severe consequences, and others who were overcome by the drug almost instantly. The health practitioners present agreed that meth impacts a broad spectrum of people and personalities. Other topics discussed was the internalized homophobia expressed by those documented in the film, how unsuccessful scare-tactics are in public health messages about meth and much more.Those present also agreed to participate in a possibly follow-up meeting about meth use in the gay community.
