Opioid Response - Opioid and Stimulant Use Education and Outreach in 2S/LGBTQIA + Communities (CA) Grant

The Opioid Response initiative aims to enhance education and outreach on opioid and stimulant use within 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities in California, which are disproportionately affected by substance use disorders. With over 2.7 million individuals identifying as part of this population, the program focuses on culturally appropriate prevention, education, and strengthening access to care and treatment services, including Medications for Opioid Use Disorder. Funding of up to $400,000 is available for projects over a 24-month period.

Opioid and Stimulant Use Education and Outreach in 2S/LGBTQIA + Communities
Program Overview
More than 2.7 million individuals in California identify as part of the Two-Spirit (2S)/LGBTQIA+ population. In comparison to heterosexual individuals nationwide, LGB (lesbian, gay and bisexual) adults report higher rates of stimulant use and SUDs. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, youth who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual were about twice as likely as straight youth to have had a SUD in the past year. Substance use and SUDs can contribute to the development of mental disorders, and brain changes in people with mental disorders may enhance the rewarding effects of substances, making it more likely they will continue to use the substance. Additionally, substance use is known to mediate the relationship between life stress and sexual risk, and opioid use in particular has the potential to increase HIV risk via sexual and injection drug behaviors. Because of this, mental health services or referrals as well as encouraging HIV testing and prevention are recommended components of educational and service activities. Some factors contributing to opioid use and stimulant use in the 2S/LGBTQIA+ community include mental illness, risk of experiencing violence, structural stigma and discrimination. These contributing factors also intersect with an individual’s place, race, language, beliefs and other identity components that each hold a different place in society.
The goals of the Opioid and Stimulant Use Education and Outreach in 2S/LGBTQIA+ Communities funding opportunity are to support outreach, prevention and education addressing OUD, StUD and polysubstance use, and to strengthen referral pathways to care and treatment services, including Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), in 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities across the state.
The Center is seeking applications from organizations that are mission-focused on 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities, strive for health equity and that will work on specific culturally and linguistically appropriate prevention and education projects
Funding
Applicants may apply for up to $400,000 to support activities over the 24-month contract period.