Addressing sexual- and drug-related HIV risk among young gay, bisexual and other MSM

In BC and many other contexts, there are increasing concerns that HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) diagnoses (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) are accumulating among young gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) at higher rates than previous generations. Epidemiological evidence links high-risk sexual behaviour with substance use, including the use of stimulants (e.g., crystal methamphetamine) and sedatives (e.g., GHB). While the need for innovative interventions to address sexual- and drug-related HIV risk among young gbMSM is high, the information available to inform more effective interventions in this area remains limited. Over the next five years, our team will develop new harmonized data systems, launch new training and mentoring opportunities, build multi-sectoral capacity and identify actionable strategies to inform the scale up of two key interventions in this area: (a) Mpowerment, a community-initiated intervention that aims to enhance the health and well-being of young gbMSM; and (b) Health Initiative for Men (HIM), a non-governmental organization that provides gbMSM-centered sexual health services at five community clinics across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Our team reflects a novel multi-disciplinary mix of new and senior investigators, trainees, youth co-researchers and key knowledge users. Our team's level of interaction and integration will be high, and we have designed our research approach, governance structure and scale up activities to facilitate this approach to collaboration. The results of the conceptually linked research activities will build capacity in relation to intervening through a multi-faceted, 'systems-level' approach and, in so doing, will also be making innovative methodological, empirical and ethical contributions to the scholarship and application of HIV implementation science.