Project MIX: Behavioral Intervention to Reduce Risk Among Substance-Using MSM

Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be the largest risk category for incident and prevalent cases of HIV and AIDS in the U.S. Studies of MSM have established an association between alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and risky sexual behaviors. Although studies have assessed and confirmed the association of AOD use and unsafe sex, few have focused specifically on reducing sexual risk of SUMSM. Sexual risk reduction interventions for MSM identified in the published scientific literature have demonstrated that they are generally effective at reducing sexual risk behaviors among MSM. However, none of these interventions specifically targeted non-injecting SUMSM. Thus, a gap exists in prevention efforts to reduce HIV transmission among SUMSM. The primary aim of the Project Mix overall is to develop and evaluate a practical intervention strategy that is specifically tailored to the needs of non-injecting SUMSM. The intent of the intervention is to decrease the number of unprotected anal sex partners (and acts) while under the influence of AOD and in general.