The AfterMeth: Gay Men Recovering from Crystal Methamphetamine and Chemsex Addiction

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Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/misery
In this powerful episode of The AfterMeth Podcast, Dallas sits down with Darren Murphy, a chemsex specialist practitioner at Forward Leeds Drug and Alcohol Service in the UK, whose journey from crystal meth addiction and drug dealing to frontline recovery work is nothing short of remarkable. Darren opens up about a life shaped by early trauma, undiagnosed ADHD, and a desperate search for the contentment that chemsex drugs provided — a chemical solution to years of self-loathing, emotional abuse, and the painful experience of navigating his gay identity. His story reaches its turning point when a prison sentence for drug trafficking becomes, in his words, the universe giving him what he needed rather than what he wanted — and a pivotal cup of sugary tea becomes the moment he promises himself to turn misery into meaning.
Dallas and Darren explore the distinction between needing to quit and truly wanting to — a framework that resonates deeply for gay men caught in the cycle of chemsex use. Darren shares how his prison rehabilitation, a chance encounter with the Samaritans, and the mentorship of a skilled drugs worker ignited his path toward becoming the first dedicated chemsex support specialist in Leeds. The conversation also offers listeners a practical look at the person-centered, trauma-informed, wraparound care model at Forward Leeds — from harm reduction QR codes in LGBT venues to flexible outreach within the community. Dallas bridges this for U.S. listeners by encouraging them to use this model as a template for asking better questions when seeking help. Both men reflect on the profound truth that chemsex gave them temporary permission to be who they always wanted to be — and how real recovery is the work of becoming that person without the chemical shortcut.
Find Darren Here:  
Instagram:  @Darren_Murphy46
LinkedIn:  Darren Murphy
Organisation Instagram: @forwardleeds
Website:  https://www.forwardleeds.co.uk/advice/chemsex-and-being-safer/
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Dallas Bragg
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Study Guide: 
https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/contentcreation

The AfterMeth Podcast | Season 3 | Guest: Mason Cross
In this Season Three episode, Dallas sits down with Mason Cross, a UK-based content creator and former meth user whose recovery journey led him to an unexpected and fulfilling new career in adult content creation — completely sober. Mason shares candidly about his four-year battle with chemsex, which escalated from smoking to intravenous use, and the harrowing moment he developed sepsis after a five-day session — an experience that still wasn't enough to make him stop. What ultimately broke the cycle wasn't a dramatic rock bottom, but exhaustion and a deep inner shift: the realization that meth was no longer part of his identity. Mason's story powerfully illustrates Dallas's recurring message that recovery isn't sparked by consequences alone — it requires a "why" rooted in who you truly are.
Mason also speaks with raw honesty about the fear so many men carry out of chemsex: that sober sex will never measure up. Having gone four years without it, he describes the vulnerability of feeling like a sexual "virgin" again — what Dallas calls a second puberty — and how creating adult content became both his dopamine replacement and an unexpected form of therapy that rewired his relationship with intimacy. He offers practical wisdom for men in early recovery: take a full break from sex before reintroducing it, find something meaningful to fill the void meth once occupied, and lean on community. Mason closes with a heartfelt endorsement of Dallas's coaching, a reminder to "LIGAMO" — Let It Go And Move On — and an unwavering message to anyone still in the thick of it: you can, and you will.
Find Mason on Instagram: @masoncrossx
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Dallas Bragg
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Study Guide:  https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/intoyourbody
Dallas sits down with Court Vox — somatic sex and intimacy coach, surrogate partner, and founder of The Body Vox — for a rich conversation about erotic embodiment, conscious sexuality, and what it means to reconnect with your body after meth. Court draws on Audre Lorde's distinction between the erotic and the pornographic to explain how so many men have built their entire sexual identity around visual, performance-driven sex — and how meth both exploits and deepens that disconnection. From the physiological reality of damaged dopamine receptors to the psychological weight of shame-soaked desires, Court and Dallas explore why stopping use is only the beginning of the sexual healing journey, and how practices like mindful masturbation, body-based exploration, and sitting with discomfort (rather than fleeing it) can begin to rewire the nervous system toward genuine pleasure and presence.
The conversation takes a particularly vulnerable turn as Dallas reflects on his own lingering distrust of gay men and the emotional fallout of non-consensual experiences during active use — and Court meets him there with compassion and practical wisdom. They tackle the common challenge of men returning to monogamous partnerships post-recovery who feel little or no attraction to their partners, and Court offers a reframe rooted in radical honesty, desire literacy, and the courage to have uncomfortable conversations that can either transform or clarify a relationship. Court also demystifies surrogate partner therapy as a slow, triadic, trauma-informed model — not a shortcut, but a profound path from fear to freedom — and shares details about his upcoming retreats and group events for men ready to explore their eroticism in community.
Find Court Here:
Instagram:  @courtvox
Website:  https://thebodyvox.com/
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Dallas Bragg
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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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https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/rebuildinglife
In this episode of The AfterMeth Podcast, Dallas sits down with Martijn, co-founder of the Herstelcollectief —a Netherlands-based aftercare coaching organization serving men coming out of chemsex and addiction treatment. Martijn shares how the gap between clinical care and everyday life motivated him and his partner Jeroen to launch the collective, after witnessing multiple chemsex-related deaths in Amsterdam's small community within a short timespan. The Herstelcollectief or 'Recovery Collective' in English, offers one-on-one coaching focused on structure, connection, identity, sexuality, and community—bridging the dangerous "gray area" between treatment discharge and sustainable recovery. Martijn also describes his years of volunteer chemsex counseling at Amsterdam's free sexual health clinic, and the collective's new crowdfunding initiative to establish a foundation that will make coaching accessible to those who can't afford it.
Dallas and Martijn find deep common ground on several key recovery themes: the critical importance of community and connection (rather than treating recovery as a solely individual endeavor), the power of building structure through small, consistent daily habits, and the way limiting beliefs—like "I'm an addict" or "I'm an introvert"—can quietly sabotage progress if left unexamined. The conversation is warm, honest, and packed with practical wisdom, touching on everything from how to rebuild community after chemsex to the role of "opposite action" from DBT in daily recovery. Dallas also shares his vision for an AfterMeth Foundation, inspired by what Martijn is building in the Netherlands, leaving listeners with a sense of what's possible when lived experience and genuine community come together in service of recovery.
Please consider to donate and share the crowdfunding for the Recovery Fund:  https://whydonate.com/nl/fundraising/herstelcollectief 
 Find Martijn and Herstelcollectief here: 
Website:    https://www.herstelcollectief.nl 
Linked In:    https://www.linkedin.com/company/108069535/  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herstelcollectief/ 

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Dallas Bragg
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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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Supplemental Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/attachment 
In this episode, Dr. Dallas Bragg and clinical psychologist Mauricio Alvarez explore the intersection of chemsex, addiction, and mental health, particularly among men who have sex with men. 
The conversation covers: 
• Mauricio's background in neuroscience and clinical psychology 
• The neurobiological and psychodynamic aspects of addiction 
• How different attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, and disorganized) manifest in relationships and influence recovery 
• The impact of trauma on attachment and behavior, especially within the LGBTQ+ community 
• Therapeutic approaches to understanding triggers and healing relationships 
• The challenges of rebuilding trust and connection after addiction 
• The dynamics of caretaking behaviors and avoidance mechanisms 
• Unique considerations for individuals in sex work 
• The importance of emotional regulation, self-compassion, and mentalizing in recovery 
Throughout the discussion, the hosts emphasize an integrated approach to support services and provide insights on fostering healthier relationships during the recovery journey. 
Find Dr. Mauricio Alvarez here: 
Instagram @drmaualvarez  
Website: https://www.drmaualvarez.com  
Blog: https://www.drmaualvarez.com/reflections/wired-for-connection 
Tina Archetypes posts:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DE3UiKAs_oQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/p/DE0rk4Qs7bm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The AfterMeth:
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Dallas Bragg
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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