Getting Off is an evidence-based, manual-driven, cognitive behavioral therapy intervention comprised of 24 sessions. Getting Off was designed to be delivered three times per week (e.g., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays OR Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), each session running approximately 90 minutes, for 8 weeks. The groups can be facilitated in person or virtually.

The group sessions are optimized when delivered in combination with a contingency management intervention. Contingency management is an evidence-based behavioral economics intervention that provides voucher points that have cash value for urine samples that are negative for recent meth use.

Participants in the Getting Off group sessions provide an onsite, in-person urine sample three times per week on the same day as the group sessions. If the urine sample tests clean (no recent meth use), participants earn voucher points that have cash value and are then exchanged for gift cards, products or services of their choosing.

Both approaches (group counseling and voucher points for clean urine) have proven effective in helping sexual minority men, gay and bisexual men, reduce or eliminate both meth use and sexual risk behaviors. Friends Getting Off was the very first program that combined these two proven methods into one package.

In sum, Friends Getting Off consists of:

♂️ Participants attend a 90-minute group session, either in person or virtually, three times per week (e.g., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays OR Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), and provide a urine sample on the same day as the group sessions.

♂️ Group sessions teach skills to eliminate or reduce meth use and to prevent relapse using culturally relevant materials for sexual minority men, gay and bisexual men.

♂️ Participants receive voucher points for clean urine that are exchange for gift cards, products or services of their choosing.