Bonus Episode: From Slamming to Sober: Alex's Story
Send us a textIn this powerful episode of The AfterMeth Podcast, host Dr. Dallas Bragg interviews Alex, a client who successfully completed the Recovery Alchemy program after battling severe crystal meth addiction. Alex shares his compelling journey from childhood trauma—including molestation at age five and growing up with a father struggling with addiction—to discovering Adderall at 19, which temporarily quieted his debilitating anxiety and OCD symptoms. What began as weekend Adderall use while hooking up with men on Craigslist eventually escalated to daily crystal meth use after his first encounter with the drug in March 2022. Despite being married to his wife Amy and caring for their son Rye, who was battling a rare blood condition, Alex spiraled into a secret double life that consumed him completely.After being exposed when Amy discovered Grindr and drug dealers on his phone during a hospital visit for sepsis, Alex cycled through multiple rehab facilities, sober living homes, and relapses over the course of a year. He eventually learned to inject meth and hit rock bottom during a four-month relapse while house-sitting for his mother. Working with Dr. Dallas Bragg's virtual coaching program, Alex was able to taper down from 0.7 grams of IV meth daily to zero, and has now maintained four months of sobriety. Today, Alex is rebuilding relationships with his son and ex-wife, working again, and experiencing genuine self-love and confidence for the first time in his life—crediting the Recovery Alchemy group for truly understanding the devastating nature of chemsex addiction.The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dr. Dallas Bragg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdallasbragg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdallasbragg/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drdallasbragg YouTube: The Aftermeth Podcast X: https://twitter.com/Drdallasbragg Free online course to End the Relapse Cycle: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/e7c2Eo22/checkout Meth-Free Blueprint EBOOK: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/o8qFhK5i/checkout
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EP 2:33 ChemFriendly: Safety for Sex Workers with Andres
Send us a textSupplemental Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/chemfriendlyIn this episode, host Dr. Dallas Bragg welcomes Andres Lekanger, chairman of Chemfriendly Norway, to discuss Chemsex, drug use, and harm reduction within the queer community. The conversation explores how Chemsex is defined differently depending on context and community needs—ranging from a broad definition including various drugs to narrower clinical definitions focused on methamphetamine, GHB, and mephedrone. Andres emphasizes the importance of terminology, particularly how people may not identify as sex workers even when exchanging sex for drugs, and advocates for practitioners to be clear about their definitions. The discussion highlights why healthcare professionals must understand that sexual health is integral to overall wellbeing, particularly for non-asexual individuals.The episode also features discussion of Chemfriendly Norway's "Ask First" campaign, which addresses consent issues within Chemsex contexts. The campaign features testimonies from MSM participants, non-binary individuals, and sex workers about consent violations and rape myths, while providing practical harm reduction advice and resources. Andres emphasizes that both victims and perpetrators of sexual assault deserve support and that drug users reporting crimes should feel safe doing so without legal consequences for their drug use. He stresses that empowering drug users and sex workers themselves to take responsibility in these conversations is a powerful tool for fighting stigma, and notes that Chemfriendly Norway's resources are accessible globally through their English-language social media, website, and information videos.ChemFriendly: https://www.en.chemfriendly.no/Campaign: askfirst.noContact Andres LeKanger: Chemfriendly_Norge (instagram)The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dr. Dallas Bragg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdallasbragg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdallasbragg/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drdallasbragg YouTube: The Aftermeth Podcast X: https://twitter.com/Drdallasbragg Free online course to End the Relapse Cycle: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/e7c2Eo22/checkout Meth-Free Blueprint EBOOK: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/o8qFhK5i/checkout
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EP 2:32 The Art of Intimate Connection with Zari
Send us a textSupplimental Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/connectionIIn this powerful episode, Dr. Dallas Bragg speaks with Zari, an artist and author living on a remote Greek island, about his groundbreaking book "Play With Me" - a collection of intimacy games designed to help men reconnect with authentic sexual experiences after chemsex addiction. Zari shares his personal journey of recognizing the emptiness of transactional hookup culture and drug-fueled encounters, explaining how he developed these games as a way to slow down, build genuine connection, and rewire the brain's association between sex and substances. The book features illustrated stories based on real experiences and includes games like strip domino and tantric breathing exercises that encourage partners to pause, feel comfortable in their bodies, and rediscover anticipation and desire without chemical enhancement.The conversation emphasizes that sexual healing after meth addiction requires patience, consistency, and a willingness to experiment with new approaches - even if the sex isn't immediately satisfying. Zari stresses that recovery means slowing down, getting out of comfort zones, and accepting that rewiring the sexual brain is a gradual process with no magic shortcuts. He encourages listeners to be open to the universe sending them partners willing to try something different, noting that roughly one in five people are curious enough to explore these connection-focused games. The book is currently live on Kickstarter, offering a tangible roadmap for men seeking to reclaim intimacy, overcome performance anxiety and erectile dysfunction, and discover that profound connection is possible without drugs.Book’s official website: https://www.playwithmebook.comKickstarter Campaign (preorder): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zari/playwithmebook?ref=4705clInstagram - Book: https://www.instagram.com/playwithme.book/ Instagram - Zari: https://www.instagram.com/zari.plays/The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dr. Dallas Bragg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdallasbragg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdallasbragg/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drdallasbragg YouTube: The Aftermeth Podcast X: https://twitter.com/Drdallasbragg Free online course to End the Relapse Cycle: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/e7c2Eo22/checkout Meth-Free Blueprint EBOOK: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/o8qFhK5i/checkout
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EP 2:31: Chemsex And the Brain with Stephen
Send us a textSupplimental Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/brainIn this episode, host Dr. Dallas Bragg speaks with Dr. Stephen Naulls, a psychiatrist based in Brighton, UK, about his groundbreaking research initiative "Chem Sex and the Brain." Dr. Naulls explains the significant gap in current research: while individual substances like crystal meth have been studied, no brain imaging research exists examining Chemsex as a unique phenomenon involving polysubstance use (crystal meth, GHB/GBL, mephedrone, and ketamine) combined with sexual activity. He defines Chemsex as inextricably linked to the LGBTQ+ community's experience of minority stress, historical trauma from the HIV/AIDS crisis, and shame around queer sexuality. He also describes that not all chemsex involvement is necessarily problematic. Dr. Naulls shares how his interest began as a medical student encountering dismissive treatment of Chemsex users in emergency departments, recognizing that established addiction pathways existed for other substances but not for this population.The conversation delves into the neurobiology of addiction, focusing on dopamine pathways and how brain imaging technology can reveal changes in the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens—the brain's main reward centers. Dr. Naulls is currently recruiting participants in the UK for brain scanning studies to understand both short and long-term neurological impacts of Chemsex use. He emphasizes that comprehensive harm reduction requires understanding all the harms first, and hopes this research will reduce stigma by demonstrating the biological impact on the brain. The episode concludes with encouraging news that drug-induced psychosis is reversible with proper psychiatric treatment, and Dr. Naulls stresses the need for better cultural competence among mental health providers when working with the Chemsex-using population.Find Stephen's work: IG: @chemsexbrainThe AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dr. Dallas Bragg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdallasbragg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdallasbragg/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drdallasbragg YouTube: The Aftermeth Podcast X: https://twitter.com/Drdallasbragg Free online course to End the Relapse Cycle: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/e7c2Eo22/checkout Meth-Free Blueprint EBOOK: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/o8qFhK5i/checkout
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EP 2:30 The Gift of Rock Bottom with Kevin
Send us a textStudy Guide:https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/rockbottomThis episode features Kevin R. Davis, a 56-year-old model who will celebrate seven and a half years of recovery from crystal meth addiction next month. Kevin's journey began with 20 years of use, initially to manage chronic pain and undiagnosed ADHD, which later became intertwined with his sexuality and intimacy. His path to recovery started with a 50-day jail sentence for possession, followed by rehabilitation in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he rebuilt his life from the ground up after experiencing homelessness and unemployment.About a year into recovery, Kevin was approached by a photographer for romance novel cover work—an opportunity he almost declined due to deep-seated insecurities. Despite his fears, he stepped outside his comfort zone and has since appeared on over 230 romance book covers, developed a following of 201,000 on Instagram, and is now breaking into fashion modeling with an upcoming appearance at Atlanta Fashion Week. Kevin openly shares his recovery story on social media, transforming what was once a source of shame into a platform for hope. He discusses the challenges of sexual reintegration after years of chemsex use, including a seven-year period of celibacy, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a "rock bottom perspective"—staying grateful for progress while being intentional about triggers and recovery boundaries. His message: life after addiction can be better than you ever imagined.You can contact Kevin on his Intagram: @kevinrdavis.officialThe AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dr. Dallas Bragg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdallasbragg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdallasbragg/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drdallasbragg YouTube: The Aftermeth Podcast X: https://twitter.com/Drdallasbragg Free online course to End the Relapse Cycle: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/e7c2Eo22/checkout Meth-Free Blueprint EBOOK: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/offers/o8qFhK5i/checkout
About The AfterMeth: Gay Men Recovering from Crystal Methamphetamine Addiction
Vision: To eradicate crystal meth addiction, especially among the gay male population. Mission: Using the power of social media, The AfterMeth will increase awareness around the characteristics and effects of crystal meth on the gay male population, provide stories of hope to inspire struggling addicts and produce a repository of tools to be used by the loved ones of gay meth addicts.Join Dr. Dallas Bragg every other week. You can find The AfterMeth Podcast anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. Find answers to:How can I stop relapsing?How can I heal my addiction?How does crystal meth addiction affect gay men?How can I get sober?
Listen to The AfterMeth: Gay Men Recovering from Crystal Methamphetamine Addiction, The Rich Roll Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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