Join the 3rd live chat. Founder and President of Impulse Los Angeles, Jose Ramos returns for a virtual sit down session with recovery treatment expert and CEO/Founder of La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center, Manny Rodriguez, and chemsex expert and British health worker, David Stuart. The three will discuss Chemsex, Apps, PNP & Help during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The third installment will be held on Facebook Live via Zoom, on Friday, May 1, 2020, from 1pm-2pm PDT.
“This session is going to cover recovery and resources,” Ramos told WEHO TIMES. “This one will be more heavily around chemsex. David Stuart is an expert on chemsex from London. Manny will come in with a more clinical standpoint, while David will be more from therapy and risk reduction standpoint.”
Last week Ramos spoke with Rodriguez about chemsex, Apps, T, G & Help. They explored how the pandemic is impacting those in recovery and what is happening to those who are still using but are not able to act out during social distancing. Topics included recommendations for those who are struggling with addiction.
L-R Jose Ramos & Manny Rodriguez – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES“Jose approached me about having a discussion on the more acute problems with meth, sex and apps during COVID-19,” Rodriguez told WEHO TIMES of his upcoming live chat. “Some people do really well with harm reduction, but if you really suffer from drug addiction, you’re probably going to need some kind of intervention.
In the first live session two weeks prior, David Stuart discussed “Chemsex, PNP and COVID,” with Jose Ramos as moderator. Stuart produced the documentary Chemsex (he coined the phrase). His expertise helps government and non-government organizations build chemsex support and HIV prevention services.
“If you’re an addict, COVID-19 is not going to take it away,” Ramos said. “I wanted to bring some awareness to the fact that people are still doing drugs. I do think there are a lot of people who still need help. It’s not a good time to be an addict and struggle by yourself with nothing to do. I want to explore what it means to be in recovery right now. How can we help? When you think about the complexities of drug use and sex and you throw COVID into it, it’s not going to stop people. We survived the AIDS epidemic. We have STDs left and right. If that’s not stopping you from having sex, I don’t think COVID is going to either. I approached Manny to have this discussion because unfortunately it’s still very relevant. Let’s give them some tools, or at least point them to some resources.”
Impulse Group is an international group of volunteers and friends dedicated to promoting healthier sexual lifestyles among gay men.
The 3rd live chat with Manny Rodriguez and Brian Stuart begins on Friday, May 1, from 1pm-2pm at: https://www.facebook.com/ImpulseUnited.
