Freddy: “Chem-Sex, or the mix between crystal meth and sex, has been impacting our community for several years now. It’s often not discussed due to fear of being judged, fear that we’re breaking the law by involving illicit substances, or fear that we will lose our sexual partner’s interest. It’s important to educate our community on “safe practices” for sexual behavior, and that may include harm reduction practices if substances are involved. What comes to mind for me is the importance of consent, clean needles (if applicable), having the discussion on HIV status, testing your substances using fentanyl strips, and keeping Naloxone nearby.”

Brandy: “Make sure you are educated about how these viruses are spread. You should take advantage of any vaccines that your area is offering, and if you are not sure, inquire with your primary care physician or a community organization you trust.

In addition to being educated and vaccinated, communicating with your partners is important. Some of these conversations aren’t easy to have, but they are needed to inform you of certain risks you may be taking when engaging in intimate and/or sexual activities.”

Brandy: “Access to culturally competent primary care physicians and healthcare providers. Not having this access creates a barrier with accessing care, especially the type of care certain areas of the community may need such as HIV services, gender-affirming care, and medications like PrEP and PEP. It’s often overlooked and needs to be in the forefront of all healthcare providers and facilities.” 

Freddy: “There’s no one cookie-cutter answer to attaining long term recovery. For many, participating in a completely abstinence-based program works. For others, harm reduction or reducing their use serves as a bridge to achieving their personal recovery goals.”