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Abstract #155938

Kristen Degan, MPH¹, John J. Echeverry, PhD², David M. Phillips³, Michael W. Plankey, PhD⁴, Yasir Shah, CHES⁵, Jared Shenk, CHES⁶, Luis Martinez⁷, Joseph Shott⁸, David Schwartz, PhD⁹, Bruce R. Weiss, MSW¹⁰, Kevin M. Shipman, MHS, LPC¹¹, Steve Geishecker, MSW, LICSW⁶, and Michael Sessa¹². (1) PreventionWorks, 1407 S St., NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-797-3557, kristendegan@gmail.com, (2) Department of Psychology, George Washington University, 2125 G St., NW, Washington, DC 20052, (3) Community Activist, 6821 19th Rd North, Arlington, VA 22205, (4) Department of Medicine / Division of Infectious Diseases, Georgetown University Medical Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 214, Washington, DC 20007, (5) DC Department of Health, HIV AIDS Administration, 64 New York Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002, (6) Whitman Walker Clinic, 1701 14th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009, (7) Graphic Designer, 7 Walter Houp Court #4, NE, Washington, DC 20002, (8) Community Activist, DC Crystal Meth Working Group, 1111 14th St., NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005, (9) Whitman-Walker Clinic; DC Crystal Meth Working Group, 1752 Euclid Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, (10) Whitman-Walker Clinic, 5232 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22207, (11) Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration (APRA), DC Department of Health, 1300 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, (12) The Metro DC Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005

In 2006 Whitman-Walker Clinic's Addiction Services department reported a 500% increase in patients seeking treatment for crystal meth addiction in DC between 2000 and 2005. Individuals in the gay community also noticed an increase in crystal use. To address the drug's growing popularity, a group of individuals and organizations in the gay leather community held a forum on crystal meth in May 2005, attended by many activists from the gay community. This sparked discussions that quickly led to the formation of the multi-stakeholder DC Crystal Meth Working Group (DCcmWG). The group, composed strictly of volunteers, includes community activists, GLBT organization members, health care providers, law enforcement officers, local government officials, public health professionals, drug treatment providers, social science researchers, and harm reduction advocates.

The coalition was designed to serve as a clearinghouse and referral center, providing information and resources to current crystal meth users and concerned family and friends. Using donated time and resources, the DCcmWG organized and participated in community events to raise awareness about crystal meth and point users and affected individuals to a variety of resources. The DCcmWG also launched an information and resource website: www.LetsTalkAboutMeth.org.

In fall 2006, the DCcmWG was officially recognized by the DC government when it applied for and was awarded $100,000 by the Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration to expand its outreach and educational activities. This funding will allow the group to conduct serious research on crystal meth use in DC to fill the current void in data on crystal use.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe the steps involved in creating a multi-stakeholder working group addressing crystal meth use in an urban area
• 2. Reproduce a similar coalition in your own community around an issue of concern across disciplines and to various groups
• 3. Identify challenges to effective group function in a coalition of equal individuals and organizations, and develop strategies to reduce those difficulties

Keywords: Community Response, Gay Men

Related Web page: www.letstalkaboutmeth.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.