Description: This session explores the intersection of substance use, sexual health, and drug user health through a client-centered lens. Participants will examine practical strategies to support HIV/STI prevention, overdose prevention, and safer substance use practices while emphasizing autonomy, feasibility, stigma reduction, and the importance of intimacy in care and prevention planning.
Learning Objectives:
Identify at least two client-centered strategies that support sexual health and overdose prevention for people who use drugs.
Explore realistic and nonjudgmental approaches to prevention planning that align with a client’s needs, goals, and circumstances.
Faculty: Dr. Monica Ruiz
Audience: This activity is intended for Community Health Workers, physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, PAs, psychologists, social workers and other clinical and community providers.
Description: This module examines how substance use and sexual behavior intersect in real-world contexts, including how drugs can influence decision-making, intimacy, partner selection, and risk-taking. It also explores the roles of trauma, spontaneity, and present-focused thinking in shaping sexual and drug-related behaviors, and reinforces the importance of client-centered, nonjudgmental approaches to care.
Learning Objectives:
Describe at least three ways substance use can influence sexual decision-making and risk behaviors.
Identify key contextual factors (e.g., intimacy, trauma, delayed discounting) that shape overlapping substance use and sexual health behaviors.
Faculty: Dr. Monica Ruiz
Audience: This activity is intended for Community Health Workers, physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, PAs, psychologists, social workers and other clinical and community providers.