PnP & Me

Gay, bi, queer men, and gender-diverse people who use drugs have unique health needs when it comes to our drug use, our sex lives, and the interconnected relationships between them. While we may use drugs during sex for many pleasurable and beneficial reasons, sometimes our substance use can also negatively interact with our mental, physical, social, and sexual health. Sometimes we find that the way we use drugs during sex no longer suits the life we want to live.

Want to talk about how you parTy and play in a supportive environment among peers? HIM is here for you!


Group Counselling

PnP & Me: The Afterparty

PnP & Me is a group therapy program designed to support you in identifying and achieving health goals related to sexualized substance use (party and play). This mental health group is facilitated bt a clinical counsellor and will offer resources and guided group discussions among peers.

PnP & Me is a harm reduction-based program, which means that abstinence is not required. Your health goals may include sobriety, or they may include reduced use and safer use. You may also set other goals that relate to meth and sex, such as coping with internalized shame, increasing condom use, decreasing social isolation, negotiating firmer boundaries while having sex, or any other changes that support your wellbeing.

Incentives for attendance and for reaching your health goals. 

 

 

The Afterparty is a weekly informal drop-in style group for gay, bi, queer men and gender diverse people who use drugs during sex (PnP) and want to connect with other people in the community. Come to make friends, hear about people’s experience in PnP and share your own, and seek support from peer navigators. There are activities every week from casual group discussions to game nights, guest speakers, and more! Check out the calendar below to see what’s happening this week.

The Afterparty is a peer-led harm reduction program, which means that abstinence is not required. You can attend the group while drunk and/or high.

 

 

 


Want to get started?

The Afterparty is every Wednesday night, 6:30-8:00pm, at #300-1033 Davie St.

Group Counselling is every Thursday night, 6:30-8:00pm, at #416-1033 Davie St.

No registration required, just drop-in. If you have any questions, please email HIMpeer@checkhimout.ca or call (604) 488-1001


FAQs

Do I need to be sober or trying to quit in order to attend the groups?
No, sobriety is not a requirement. We will support you in identifying and achieving the personal goals that you set, which may include abstinence or reduced use and safer use. You may also set other health goals that relate to meth and sex, such as coping with internalized shame, increasing condom use, decreasing social isolation, negotiating firmer boundaries while having sex, or any other changes that support your wellbeing. You may attend the groups while high and/or drunk. We only ask you to be respectful of participants who want to abstain from using, just as we ask for the same respect for you.

Is it confidential?
Yes, anything you say is confidential. This and other group agreements will be discussed at the beginning of each group. Anyone who is found to have broken group confidentiality may be asked to leave the group.
You do not need to use your “real” name during group sessions. We will also ask you how to best contact you, including your preferences for discretion (ie. Phone calls must come from a blocked number, do not leave any voicemail, only contact me by social media, etc.)

Will my accessibility needs be met?
If you need an ASL interpreter or have other accessibility needs, please let us know in advance as much as possible so we can arrange this for you.
The entrance to the venue is wheelchair- and scooter-accessible with an elevator and automatic front door. Washrooms on the 3rd and 4th floors are gendered, narrow in width, and shared with several other offices on the same floor during regular office hours (9am-5pm). In the washrooms on the 1st floor, the stalls are wider to fit mobility devices, service animals, and/or care assistants. The sinks are 33” high, and the soap dispensers and lock on the stall doors are 42” high. The 1st floor washrooms are gendered and single-stalled, but have a shared sink space. There are two manual doors to access the washroom. One door requires a passcode to enter, which requires some fine motor coordination to input. There will be staff on site to assist with entering the washroom as requested. Please note that we cannot guarantee a scent– and chemical-free environment at this time due to COVID-related sanitizing requirements. We encourage our participants to reduce artificial scents like cologne and perfume as much as possible.

How much are the incentives?
You will receive a $10 voucher for attendance at each group counselling session. This incentive is intended to acknowledge that by simply showing up, you are meeting a health goal. Additionally, if you meet another personal health goal, you will be able to draw a paper slip from a fishbowl for vouchers amounts between $5 and $15. Vouchers amounts can be directly deposited into your bank or PayPal account, exchanged for prizes after each group session, or held onto to build up a bigger balance to exchange for bigger prizes. Bus tickets are available to participants to offset the cost of transportation.

Will there be drug-testing?
No, there will not be drug testing.

How much do the groups cost?
The groups and individual counselling sessions are free!

How do I sign up?
No sign-up or registration required! To join, come visit us during drop-in hours

HIM honours the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and the territories of many nations on the west coast of Turtle Island, on whose unceded and stolen land we live and work. As uninvited inhabitants, we acknowledge that this space is and always will be Indigenous land.

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