Lighthouse Learning Series: Chemsex 201
Starting in February 2025 and running until June 2025, we will be covering a series of queer harm reduction topics with the goal of creating a more inclusive movement.
Priority is given to those living and working in New York due to program scope. However, the series will be held virtually and is open to all those who would like to build on their harm reduction knowledge to provide better services to LGB/TGNC+ folks!
Session description: Chemsex 201 – a deeper dive into the substances, brain chemistry, and biopsychosocial elements of sexualized drug use. Advanced understanding of Chemsex and related harm reduction techniques will be applied to interactive cases and group discussion.
Facilitators:
Jona Tanguay, MMSc, PA-C, AAHIVS (they/them) [pronunciation yo – NAH TANG – ghee] is Vice President of Medical Services and Gender-Affirming Care at Amida Care, a non-profit community health plan based in New York City serving approximately 10,000 members throughout the five boroughs including nearly 4,000 members of transgender experience. Jona practices part-time as a telehealth clinician at Whitman-Walker Health, a Federally-Qualified Health Center in Washington DC where they formerly served as the Leader of Medical Substance Use Disorder Programs. They are a Clinical Instructor at Yale School of Medicine, and the President of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, the world’s largest and oldest association of LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals. Jona is a graduate of the Physician Associate Program at Yale School of Medicine, where they sat on the Dean’s Advisory Council for LGBTQI+ affairs. As a nationally recognized expert on Chemsex and LGBTQ+ Health, they are a frequent invited speaker at non-profits, conferences, health professional schools, and medical education organizations. Jona is the founder of ChemsexHarmReduction.org, an educational resource for providers and people who participate in Chemsex.
