New harm-reduction program in Vancouver caters to GBQ+, gender-diverse communities

Vancouver resident Bruce says he uses crystal meth periodically,butnow he wants to stop.

So he joineda newharm-reduction programthat caters to the health and well-being of gay, bisexual,queer men (GBQ+) and gender-diverse people in Metro Vancouver.

PnP& Meis agroup counselling programdesigned to support GBQ+ people who wish to reduce or quit their use of stimulant drugs, such as crystal meth, in a sexual context. PnP, which stands for 'party and play' was launched bythe Health Initiative for Men (HIM), a Vancouver-based non-profit.

Bruce,47,whose last name the CBC has agreed not to usefor confidentiality reasons, says he no longer uses drugs in the context of sex and partying but decided tojoin the free, 16-week program as part of his sobriety journey.

"I have to understand my own use and be able to control that in order to be of service to anybody else," he said.

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Canada'sCentre for Addiction and Mental Health describescrystal meth as a highly addictive drug that can create a sense of euphoria and make people feel more alert and energetic.

Along with other stimulant drugs, crystal meth iscommonly used in the GBQ+ community during parties and sex, saysEvan Matchett-Wong, program director at HIM making the communitydisproportionately affected by B.C.'stoxic drug crisis.

At least 161 people died in April as a result of the toxic drug supply in the province, according to the latest figures from the coroners service.

Matchett-Wong says the goal of PnPis to help participants with their health journeys, whether that's reducing theiruse of stimulant drugsor quittingaltogether.

"It can lead to saving their lives and preventing overdoses," they said.

Meeting specific needs

Harm reduction refers to a set ofpolicies, programs and practicesfocused onminimizingsome of the negative health and social outcomes of substance use, according to Vancouver Coastal Health.

Some examples of harm-reduction practices include providing supervised consumption sites, and withdrawal management and recovery programs.

Advocates say more harm-reduction programs addressing stimulant substance use where reduced drug use is encouraged, although full abstinence is notrequired are needed.

Rod Knight, a research scientist at theBritish Columbia Centreon Substance Abuse, says there aren't as manytools to help address crystal meth addictioncompared to opioid addiction.

He says while treatmentslikepharmacotherapy treating addiction to one type of drug with the help of another type ofdrug can be used to fight opioid addiction, the same cannot be done right now for crystal meth.

Vancouver Coastal Health said in a statement that while it helps fund and operate severalharm-reduction programs in the region, PnP & Meis currently one of a fewthat meets thespecific needs ofGBQ+ men and gender-diverse people.

'In this group, we're not going to be judged'

Research shows one of the most effective strategies in addressing crystal meth use is contingency management helping participants through therapy sessions and goal-setting, and rewarding them when goals are met, says Knight.

The PnP program follows this model: participants attendweekly 90-minute group counselling sessions, weeklyindividual counselling sessions, as well as year-long, peer-led drop-in sessions, where they can connect with other participants and seek additional support.The program hosts up to 15 people per cohort,with three cohorts planned every year.

Participants are incentivized to work toward their goals whichincludecoping with internalized shame, increasing condom use, and decreasing social isolation, says Matchett-Wong withprizes such as cash vouchers orpasses to local museums.

Bruce says being able to connect with others with similar experiences creates a sense of camaraderie.

"We know that being in this group, we're not going to be judged by anybody," Bruce said.