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

Dr. Dallas Bragg
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Vision:  To eradicate crystal meth addiction and chemsex misuse, 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 and chemsex on the community of men who have sex with men, provide stories of hope to inspire struggling users and produce a repository of tools to be used by the loved ones of men who want to break free from the addictive patterns of chemsex. 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?

  1. 10H AGO

    Best of Season 2: Attachment Styles and Chemsex Addiction with Mauricio

    Send us Fan Mail 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: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dallas Bragg Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog 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

    1h 31m

  2. MAR 12

    Best of Season 2: Loving Yourself AfterMeth with Brian Spitulik

    Send a text Study Guide:  https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/lovingyourself In this episode of The AfterMeth Podcast, host Dr. Dallas Bragg interviews therapist Brian Spitulnik, who has gained significant attention on social media for his work with gay men. Brian, a psychotherapist who works primarily within a psychodynamic and Internal Family Systems framework, discusses his therapeutic approach to understanding addiction and mental health. He explains how different "parts" of ourselves, including the part that reaches for substances like crystal meth, actually have positive intentions and are trying to protect or help us in some way. Rather than viewing addiction as a disease to be fought, Brian advocates for understanding and having compassion for these parts, eventually giving them new roles rather than trying to eliminate them. The conversation explores broader issues affecting the gay male community, including the loneliness epidemic, the impact of hookup apps like Grindr and Sniffies on addiction patterns, and how historical trauma from the AIDS crisis continues to affect gay men today. Brian draws parallels between the current crystal meth crisis and the AIDS epidemic, noting how both have been shrouded in stigma and silence within the community. The discussion emphasizes the importance of open dialogue about chemsex and methamphetamine use, while highlighting the need for both therapy and spiritual connection in recovery. Brian also shares his upcoming mental health app called "Gayfully," designed to help gay men connect authentically and work on their mental health together. Contact Brian here:  Instagram: @Spitulnik Tiktok: @Spitulnik The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dallas Bragg Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog 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

    1h 4m

  3. MAR 5

    100th Episode and Season 2 Finale: 7 Daily Practices for Chemsex Recovery

    Send a text Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/GuidedPractices In celebration of Episode 100 of The AfterMeth Podcast, Dallas Bragg delivers a milestone solo episode reflecting on two years of conversations that have reached men across the globe — men who have listened in hotel rooms to avoid using, found hope while coming down, or simply needed to feel seen. With gratitude and momentum, Dallas closes out Season Two by sharing seven guiding practices designed to strengthen chemsex recovery from the inside out — not through willpower or shame, but through daily, intentional action rooted in self-awareness and personal responsibility. The seven practices — acknowledging the gifts and costs of the chemsex experience, claiming personal power, examining life with curiosity instead of condemnation, living through core values, committing to consistent daily change, honoring personal energy and boundaries, and maintaining authentic connection to self — form a holistic framework for building a life so fulfilling that escape is no longer needed. Weaving together coaching insights, client stories, and concepts like alchemy and mindfulness, Dallas invites listeners to move from victim to creator, from shame to gold. Season Three begins March 26th, 2026.In celebration of Episode 100 of The AfterMeth Podcast, Dallas Bragg delivers a milestone solo episode reflecting on two years of conversations that have reached men across the globe — men who have listened in hotel rooms to avoid using, found hope while coming down, or simply needed to feel seen. With gratitude and momentum, Dallas closes out Season Two by sharing seven guiding practices designed to strengthen chemsex recovery from the inside out — not through willpower or shame, but through daily, intentional action rooted in self-awareness and personal responsibility. The seven practices — acknowledging the gifts and costs of the chemsex experience, claiming personal power, examining life with curiosity instead of condemnation, living through core values, committing to consistent daily change, honoring personal energy and boundaries, and maintaining authentic connection to self — form a holistic framework for building a life so fulfilling that escape is no longer needed. Weaving together coaching insights, client stories, and concepts like alchemy and mindfulness, Dallas invites listeners to move from victim to creator, from shame to gold. Season Three begins March 26th, 2026. The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dallas Bragg Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog 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

    52 min

  4. FEB 26

    EP 2:50: Top Pitfalls of Chemsex Recovery with Dallas and Bobby

    Send a text Study Guide:   https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/pitfalls The AfterMeth Podcast welcomes assistant coach Bobby for a candid, experience-driven conversation about the most common pitfalls that hold men back in chemsex recovery. Dallas and Bobby each bring their own list of recovery obstacles to the table, comparing notes in real time to give listeners a comprehensive look at what actually gets in the way of progress. From "othering" other men in recovery as a way to avoid admitting the depth of one's own struggle, to inconsistency, isolation, dishonesty, and the trap of relying on willpower alone — the episode names the patterns that quietly sabotage even the most motivated clients. Together, Dallas and Bobby emphasize that recovery success isn't measured by whether someone uses or not, but by a broader set of metrics: relationships, self-trust, emotional regulation, and momentum. They dig into practical strategies like structured weekend planning, blocking apps, building a support network outside of Grindr, and responding to relapse as a learning opportunity rather than a reason to start over. Drawing openly from their own lived experiences in recovery, both men offer the kind of grounded, shame-free honesty that makes this episode a valuable resource for anyone navigating chemsex recovery — whether they're brand new or stuck in a cycle they can't seem to break. The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dallas Bragg Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog 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

    1h 27m

  5. FEB 19

    EP 2:49 Building Your Chemsex Free Community with Beau

    Send a text Supplemental Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/chemsexcommunity In this episode, Dallas is joined by Beau, creator of the Gather app, for an honest conversation about the challenge so many gay and queer men face in recovery: how do you build genuine community when your entire social world was built around chemsex, hookup apps, and party culture? Both Dallas and Beau share their personal journeys of recognizing the armor they built to survive homophobia — and how substances became a shortcut to the connection, playfulness, and belonging they were desperate for. They explore how media, pornography, and cultural pressure shaped narrow expectations of what it means to be gay, and how recovery becomes an opportunity to finally ask: who am I, really? The conversation turns to practical ways of rebuilding connection — from attending ecstatic dance and cuddle puddles to joining run clubs, volunteering with queer nonprofits, and taking small, brave steps like simply walking into a room of strangers and smiling. Beau introduces the Gather app as a community-driven alternative to Grindr, designed to help queer people post spontaneous, low-pressure meetups — a walk in the park, a book club, a life drawing class — and find others nearby who share their vibe. Dallas and Beau both emphasize that the path forward requires self-compassion, pushing past discomfort, and a collective commitment to showing up for one another in new ways. Download the Gather App: https://www.letsgather.app/ Find Beau here: Instagram @gaybritishbear The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dallas Bragg Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog 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

    1h 2m

  6. FEB 12

    EP 2:48: The Gifts of Chemsex with Matthew

    Send a text Supplemental Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/giftofchemsex In this episode, host Dr. Dallas Bragg sits down with Matthew, a client and graduate of the Foundations group coaching program, who shares his journey from childhood in West Virginia to crystal meth addiction and ultimately into recovery. Matthew opens up about the subtle but powerful childhood wounds that shaped his sense of self — growing up as an identical twin constantly compared to his brother, latching onto intelligence as his sole identity, and enduring bullying that reinforced deep feelings of inadequacy. He traces how those unhealed wounds drove him toward perfectionism, people-pleasing, and eventually chemsex, where meth temporarily silenced the relentless inner voices telling him he wasn't good enough. The conversation turns to the transformative shift that changed everything for Matthew: learning self-compassion. Through Dr. Bragg's coaching program, Matthew began to see meth not as a villain that stole his life, but as a mirror reflecting what he'd been missing — self-worth, self-love, and authentic identity. Key themes explored include the power of asking "what is true and what is a story," releasing judgment (of meth, of yourself, of your past), and the courage it takes to stop identifying with your wounds and start discovering who you actually are. Matthew's story is a powerful testament that recovery isn't about returning to who you were — it's about becoming who you were always meant to be. Find Matthew here: Instagram:  Matthewdenali.11 Email:          matthew.murse21@gmail.com The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dallas Bragg Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog 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

    1h 22m

  7. FEB 5

    EP 2:47 Healing for Couples Affected by Chemsex

    Send a text Supplemental Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/HealingRelationships In this episode of The AfterMeth Podcast, host Dr. Dallas Bragg sits down with Tom Bruett, LMFT and certified sex therapist, to explore the complex dynamics of relationships affected by crystal meth use. Tom, founder of the Queer Relationship Institute and author of "The Go To Relationship Guide for Gay Men," brings his extensive expertise working with queer couples through the challenges of chemsex addiction. The conversation tackles difficult questions many listeners face: What happens when one partner is using and the other isn't? How does meth become a "third partner" in the relationship, competing for attachment and attention? Tom emphasizes that honesty forms the foundation for healing, explaining how repeated betrayals create trauma for non-using partners and erode trust in ways that go beyond the drug use itself. He candidly addresses the reality that rebuilding a relationship during active use is nearly impossible, as meth fundamentally alters brain chemistry and becomes the primary attachment object, making meaningful connection with a partner extremely difficult. The discussion then shifts to recovery and sexual reintegration, offering both hope and realistic expectations for couples navigating this journey. Tom shares that rebuilding trust requires "new experiences"—not just stopping use, but actively bringing partners into the recovery process through vulnerable sharing about cravings, triggers, and close calls. He addresses one of the most common concerns: the fear that sex will never feel the same again after meth. Rather than offering false promises, Tom encourages couples to grieve what was lost while expanding their definition of intimacy and sexual connection, starting small with touch, massage, and emotional presence rather than expecting immediate return to previous patterns. He outlines the importance of both partners getting support—the person in recovery needs their own resources, while the non-using partner often needs therapy or coaching to process their own trauma and learn when to set firm boundaries. Throughout the conversation, Tom validates the profound grief both partners experience while emphasizing that recovery is possible when couples are willing to do the heavy lifting of honest communication, boundary-setting, and rebuilding their foundation together. Socials-  Instagram- @queerrelationshipinstitute Youtube- @queerrelationshipinstitute Tiktok- @the The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dallas Bragg Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog 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

    57 min

  8. JAN 29

    EP 2:46 Finding Your Chemsex Recovery Plan with Shane

    Send a text Supplemental Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/ChemsexRecovery In this episode of The AfterMeth Podcast, host Dr. Dallas Bragg sits down with Shane Mayson, a recovery and life coach and interventionist with 22 years of personal recovery experience. Shane shares his journey from discovering drugs at age 13 in Charleston, South Carolina, through his progression to methamphetamine use in New York City in 1989, and ultimately finding recovery in 1994 through 12-step programs. He candidly discusses growing up gay in a religious household with a Pentecostal preacher father, the shame he carried, and how substances initially felt like the solution he'd been searching for before his life spiraled to homelessness and a critical turning point. The conversation explores the distinction between life coaching and recovery coaching, with Shane explaining that while life coaching helps clients discover their own answers through curiosity and questioning, recovery coaching requires more direct guidance on essential boundaries like changing phone numbers and cutting contact with using networks. Both Shane and Dallas emphasize the irreplaceable value of peer-to-peer support in recovery, noting that while clinical therapy has its place, the lived experience of someone who has navigated chemsex addiction brings a unique understanding that cannot be taught in a classroom. Shane's approach blends compassionate intervention with practical recovery tools, highlighting that recovery is possible and that the journey continues to evolve even decades into sobriety. Find Shane here: Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanemayson/ Instagram: @shane_mayson Email : Shane@steadfast-support.com The AfterMeth: Join our Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theaftermeth/ Dallas Bragg Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog 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

    1h 8m
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4.8
out of 5
45 Ratings

About

Vision:  To eradicate crystal meth addiction and chemsex misuse, 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 and chemsex on the community of men who have sex with men, provide stories of hope to inspire struggling users and produce a repository of tools to be used by the loved ones of men who want to break free from the addictive patterns of chemsex. 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?

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