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Flashing lights, thumping bass, pounding hearts, and the reflections of crystal meth. The reflections aren’t just those of the crystal, but the reflections of those using it. The scene is all too common in gay and lesbian environments, and dangerously common in gay youth. What makes the gay society, and the youth of such a group, so prone to use such substances? Is it the easily altered mind of youth that starts this trend, or is it the fact that society pushes gays away? The issue is just as pertinent today as it is for tomorrow. Approximately forty percent of gay men are addicted to drugs. Twenty percent of this population could be classified as young adults . According to the Pride Institute, it has been estimated that one out of every three gays and lesbians struggles with chemical dependency every day. In a study of 218 gay and bisexual youth (ages 14-25), 41.3 percent had used a non-prescription drug and 38.5 percent had used alcohol . Males reported a higher use rate among both substances. The facts show that there is prevalent usage among the homosexual community with regard to alcoholism and drug abuse. This leads us to question why the facts are so. Homophobia in our society has limited the opportunities for gay