Workshops

“Getting There from Here” The Ongoing Effects of Crystal Meth on Gay Men & the Use of Harm Reduction & Abstinence-Based Interventions in Treatment

Josh Riley, LPC, NCC, Whitman Walker Health, Antonio Ruberto, Jr., LCSW, CASAC, LGBT Community Center in NYC

Over the past several years, crystal meth has become entrenched within our community, creating a call to action among service providers not seen since the early days of the AIDS epidemic. While this drug continues to be highly visible amongst gay white men, there is increasing evidence of its use by other members of our community.

Historically there has often been a divide between the recovery community and practitioners of harm reduction. Whether real or imagined, this divide perpetuates the belief that these two approaches are mutually exclusive and in conflict with one another. Can harm reduction and abstinence-based recovery work together in a way that is complementary? Can these two seemingly different approaches support and motivate change in users?

This workshop will explore the continued effects crystal meth is having on all gay men, including gay men of color. The importance of examining the use and abuse of crystal meth within a larger framework of gay men’s health (mental health, physical health including HIV and Hepatitis C, trauma history) will provide the participant with a holistic view on how to more effectively approach treating gay men grappling with this addiction.

This presentation will explore different treatment approaches that operate from both a harm reduction and abstinence-based perspective. Examples from evidence-based treatment interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management, and others from a variety of settings, will be used to illustrate how harm reduction and abstinence-based recovery can work together to support individuals to achieve their substance use and sobriety goals.