Substance Use
About This Service
GMHC provides nonjudgmental substance use services as part of our comprehensive strategy to support people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our services are designed to help guide you through safer and better managed use of substances and/or supporting abstinence from drugs or alcohol. We can also help you understand your relationship to alcohol and substances, and how to reduce personal harm.
Thank you to Elevance Health for their generous support of our harm reduction services.
What We Offer
GMHC staff are trained mental health and substance use professionals. We offer have a range of substance use programs including:
Women Empowering Women
Women Empowering Women provides individual and group counseling support for woman-identified clients who have histories of substance use and mental health issues, incarceration, sex work and unstable housing. We focus on issues such as cravings, triggers, relapse prevention, harm reduction strategies, coping with living with HIV/AIDS, maintaining sobriety, and others.
Methamphetamine Ryan White Harm Reduction Services
This program is a sex-positive, safer-space to learn about safer crystal meth use for gay and bisexual men, and transgender women. Using a harm reduction approach to treatment and through both individual and group counseling, this program works to aid individuals in reducing and eliminating the negative consequences of chronic or problematic crystal meth use.
Psychiatry
We can refer clients to medical providers who can explore how medications can be used to support you in achieving your goals alcohol and substance use goals.
Opioid Overdose Prevention Program
We are committed to combatting the opioid epidemic in New York and lead a registered Opioid Overdose Prevention Program under the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Our staff are certified to provide training to GMHC staff, clients, and community members on recognizing signs of opioid overdose and in the use of Narcan (Naloxone) to reverse overdose. These training programs are open to anyone interested in learning how to recognize and reverse opioid overdoses. Participants receive a free Overdose Prevention Kit containing two doses of intranasal Naloxone. Our staff also train individuals in the community, both on site at GMHC and off-site at various locations throughout the city. Training is also available via ZOOM
Syringe Access Program
We can provide access to unused, clean syringes via a voucher system. Individuals in need of syringes, for a variety of reasons (e.g. intravenous drug use, hormone therapy, diabetes, etc.) are provided with a voucher they can use to redeem 10 unused, clean syringes at our on-site pharmacy, Avita.
For more information about syringe vouchers, please contact Juanita Chestnut, Outreach Worker, at juanitac@gmhc.org.
Contact
Email mhs@gmhc.org or Ph. 212-367-1109.
Substance Use
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Although most of our services are designed to serve the needs of people who have tested positive for HIV, we also provide many services to those who are HIV-negative.
No. Those who have tested antibody positive for HIV will be asked to complete a GMHC agency intake to be screened for the array of services that we provide at GMHC. People who are HIV-negative will not be eligible for agency membership, but may still be eligible for some of our substance use services. A harm reduction counselor will conduct a screening to determine eligibility for enrollment.
You can complete the secure and confidential form on this page or call 212-367-1057. Due to COVID-19, staff are providing remote intake services by phone for people who wish to become a GMHC client and access services. Staff will assess your needs and make referrals to programs and services provided by GMHC and/or our partners throughout New York City.
Yes, our services have different eligibility requirements. An intake specialist can help you understand requirements for our different services.
Currently all of our programs are grant-funded and no insurance is required for enrollment and participation.
