SOBER, SAFE & SATISFIED: Negotiating for Sobriety and Safer Sex in New Relationships

With a research grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), State of the Art, Inc. has created a health education resource entitled “SOBER, SAFE & SATISFIED: Negotiating for Sobriety and Safer Sex in New Relationships” (SSS). It is designed to support gay men in substance abuse counseling programs in their struggle to stay sober as they form new intimate relationships. It’s fundamental goal is to prevent HIV/AIDS.

Behaviors linked to drug abuse are considered to be the single largest factor in the spread of HIV infection in the United States. High-risk HIV behaviors are not limited to injection drug use. NIDA and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism have shown in their research that drug and alcohol use can impair judgment around sexual decision making, increase the likelihood of unprotected and unsafe sex, and thereby elevate the risk of HIV and other STDs.

To address the intersection of drug/alcohol abuse and high-risk HIV behavior, State of the Art, Inc. has designed a resource for gay men who are in or have completed substance abuse treatment. The SSS materials feature an innovative, scored, interactive simulation program that allows men in recovery to practice privately and safely the “dating” process, while addressing some of the difficult questions around sober intimacy, including HIV sero-status and negotiating for sobriety and condom use.

The materials can be used in treatment settings by patients individually, as a group activity, or as a professional training tool. An accompanying facilitator’s guide will assist professionals in integrating this resource into their existing programs. The main goal of this resource is to provide a skill-building experience for re-engaging in intimate behavior and new relationships, reducing STD risk, and reinforcing or maintaining sobriety to avoid relapse in the face of psychosocial challenges.