63_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kalMZCelNw_reducing drug use
gpt
So Tom, this infection is been pretty painful for you but we have antibiotics. If you take it faithfully for 10 days, I'm sure that your infection will be gone. Can you do that?
human
Definitely.
gpt
And do you mind if we talk about a screening form that you filled out earlier today on drug use?
human
Okay.
gpt
Let's take a look. It says that on occasion you use, uh, drugs other than medical reasons. Which drugs do you use?
human
I do some meth.
gpt
Snort it, smoke it?
human
Snort it, always snort it.
gpt
Don't inject it?
human
Mm-mm.
gpt
Use any other drugs?
human
Just, you know, some alcohol.
gpt
And, uh, um, you do this how often?
human
Meth?
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
Um, two, three times a month.
gpt
So you're an occasional meth user. You don't use very often?
human
Right.
gpt
Only snort it?
human
Right.
gpt
Well, as I think you know, Methamphetamine use is associated with some health risks. And the amount that you're using it-it puts you in a category that we consider a risky user. And that contrasts with someone who it says addicted, um, someone who's a heavy user but it's not in a healthy category because people who use Methamphetamine tend to run to a number of consequences. And actually one of them is, um, sexually transmitted diseases. Do you suppose that your STD might be associated with your Methamphetamine use?
human
Yeah, it could be because, uh, I was high when I had unprotected sex and I would not do that if I were not high.
gpt
So you're normally very careful and you use protection when you have sex?
human
Definitely, yeah.
gpt
And it seems to you that methamphetamine may have clouded your judgment?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Anything else happening with Methamphetamine in your life? Is it affecting you in any way?
human
No, I mean, no. I mean, like I said, I only do it in clubs, you know, with my friends, uh, two or three times a month at-at the most. Um, uh, I don't think it's really having other impacts. But I'm-I'm concerned about this one. I never expected to get gonorrhea.
gpt
Yeah, you know, I'm concerned bout it too and I'd actually recommend that you stop using Methamphetamine altogether. And, um, there-there are a lot of reasons for this but that's-that's would be my recommendation.
human
I-I understand but it's I think that would be a hard thing for me to do. You know, I mean, I know I should but, I mean, that's like my whole social life. You know, I mean, all my friends go to these clubs. That's where- that's where I see them. You know, that's my sex life basically and, uh, meth is just- it's just a part of it. You know, I mean, everyone is doing it there. You know, so it's while I would like to stop it's-it's kind of hard to think about doing that right away.
gpt
So you recognize Methamphetamine has some problems associated with it and you also on the balance see that a lot of your social life and your sex life involves Methamphetamine, it would be difficult to quit using?
human
Yeah, I don't think it would be easy but I'm not saying that I'm not willing to try.
gpt
Well, if you were to, um, consider how ready you are to stop using Methamphetamine completely-
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
-with zero being not ready at all-
human
Mm.
gpt
-and 10 being ready, where would you put yourself?
human
Uh, three.
gpt
Why not a one or a two?
human
I mean, this has been really uncomfortable, you know, gonorrhea is a really bad experience. And, uM, I know I don't think the same, you know, when I'm- when I'm on it. And, uh, I mean, what I have is bad enough, I could easily get AIDS. I could get HIV the same way. So that scares me a lot. That's why it's higher than a one or two.
gpt
Are there any other concerns that you have about Methamphetamine?
human
Well, I do just snort it but you don't know what it's cut with, you know, there could be something, you know. It could be really bad, um, if it was cut with something dangerous or something. I mean, I-I worry about that sometimes.
gpt
Mm, so when I was first talking to you, I thought that you'd have a very, um, really not much interest in not stoping using Methamphetamine but it sounds like you have a number of reasons why you really would like to stop using Methamphetamine. And that is, um, that it might be cut with something else, um, you could get another ST- STD including HIV.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Um, what do you think would make it easier for you to cut down or quit using Methamphetamine?
human
Something else to do on weekends, you know, different social life.
gpt
How could you get a different social life?
human
It's the hard thing, I mean, almost everybody I know uses it.
gpt
Is there anyone in your life who doesn't use methamphetamine?
human
My sister.
gpt
Does she-- Have you talked to her about your meth use?
human
I haven't really talked to her about it. I think she knows it I do it sometimes. I mean, we're pretty close. I think I could talk to her about it, and I think she would probably help.
gpt
So on the one hand, it would be difficult to quit using Methamphetamine because there are so many positives that you get from using it. But on the other, there are reasons why you want to quit using methamphetamine.
human
Yes.
gpt
And there's some things that you might be able to do that would make it easier to not use methamphetamine including talking to your sister and getting some support.
human
Yes.
gpt
Well, great. I recommend that you not use Methamphetamine at all but what you do is up to you.
human
Okay.
gpt
I could see you again in a month. Would that work out for you?
human
Yeah, sure.