While sexual health services catering to gay, bisexual, trans, Two-Spirit, and queer (GBT2Q) people are available in Metro Vancouver, mental health and substance use harm reduction services that are tailored to the needs of this group remain limited. Integrated services that acknowledge the interconnected nature of substance use, sexual health and mental health in this population are rarer still.
This is problematic given markedly elevated rates of substance use among GBT2Q people and unique patterns of substance use, including the sexualized use of crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth). Distinct patterns of trauma, motivations for substance use, and other social factors that drive substance use among GBT2Q people highlight the need for targeted services and supports for this population.
This project sought to identify gaps and opportunities in crystal meth harm reduction services and treatment for GBT2Q people in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions. All project activities were led by a steering committee composed of GBT2Q community members, researchers, and service providers from the Community-Based Research Centre, BC Centre on Substance Use, Health Initiative for Men, and the University of Victoria who met regularly, made project decisions by consensus, and collaborated on this final report.