In 2015, Jason Yamas was a 29-year-old multimedia producer working for a Grammy Award-winning artist. However, by 2016, he had spiraled into meth and GHB addiction, sabotaging his artistic career and becoming one of the top suppliers of illicit drugs to San Francisco’s largely gay “party and play” subculture. In his recently released memoir, “Tweakerworld,” Yamas describes the experience of living in the drug-fueled subculture from the unique perspective of both a one-time addict and drug dealer. He hopes that his story can serve as a warning for those who might encounter this subculture without fully understanding the potential ramifications of meth and GHB use.
According to data collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, from 2015 to 2017, the percentage of gay men surveyed who reported using meth in the previous year was twice as high as straight men. For many gay men, meth is first posed to them as a form of sexual enhancement or a way to extend the party, with some men reporting that they first tried meth without even knowing what it was. Yamas said the typical depiction of a meth user is out of step with the realities of the populations it affects.
Yamas’ descent into addiction and drug dealing started when he turned to meth in 2016 after he couldn’t get his usual Adderall prescription. He quickly became the largest crystal meth supplier within San Francisco’s queer community, operating in pounds of meth and gallons of GHB at a time, which he referred to as “liquid gold” because of how valuable it was. At his peak, Yamas was bringing in $15,000 to $20,000 in profit per week, selling 15 pounds of meth and four gallons of GHB. Later, he was introduced to GHB, which is commonly known as the “date rape drug” but is also used in “party and play” culture because of the heightened sense of euphoria it can provide in smaller doses.
Yamas’ memoir sheds light on the persistent problem of addiction in the LGBTQ community and why it’s important to talk about it. Addiction, he said, does not discriminate, and he hopes that his story can help prevent others from falling into the same trap.