After several years of operating an innovative program that addresses sexual behavior related to drug and alcohol relapse, Stepping Stone is expanding its “Discovering Sexual Health in Recovery” curriculum.

Upon beginning treatment at Stepping Stone, San Diego’s only drug and alcohol residential recovery program specifically serving the GLBT community, most clients have already made a decision to abstain from drugs and alcohol and commit to a life of sobriety. Statistics have shown, however, that a large percentage of clients relapse during sexual encounters.

“We believe it is imperative that we equip our clients with the tools to develop a healthy and responsible sexual life, at the same time we are helping them on the path to a sober one,” said Cheryl Houk, executive director of Stepping Stone.

Approximately 70 percent of Stepping Stone’s male clients and 10 percent of its female clients are addicted to one or more “club drugs,” including methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, GHB and amyl nitrate (otherwise known as poppers). Through the Discovering Sexual Health in Recovery program, clients addicted to club drugs, particularly methamphetamines, demonstrated higher retention rates and higher graduation rates at Stepping Stone. At three-month and six-month follow-ups, clients showed significant improvement in measures of sexual-health attitudes and beliefs, plus demonstrated reductions in an array of psycho-social stressors such as depression and anxiety.

“We know there is a powerful link between the use of these club drugs and risky sexual behaviors. It is vitally important that we have open and clear communication about sexual health for LGBT people who are in recovery,” Houk said.

Discovering Sexual Health in Recovery is a 12-week program that teaches people in recovery how to recognize and deal with sexual situations and drug use.

“After 12 weeks, we feel like they have a better handle on how they can prevent sexual behaviors that cause them to relapse,” said Joe Dintino, Discovering Sexual Health in Recovery project manager. “For so long, people were having sex with drugs that they did not know how to have sex without drugs. We are giving them hope, teaching them you can have a healthy sex life without drugs.”

As part of the curriculum, Discovering Sexual Health in Recovery is expanding beyond Stepping Stone. From just one program a week, Stepping Stone is now teaching five. Three of those classes are taught to people in recovery: the original program for clients in Stepping Stone’s residential recovery program; a class open to anyone in recovery; and a class at Pegasus, a program of Mental Health Systems, Inc.

Stepping Stone is working to provide a model for this program to other drug and alcohol treatment facilities to replicate throughout San Diego County. Thus, two of the new classes are being taught to other professionals working in the drug and alcohol recovery field.

“The drug and alcohol recovery field does not talk about sex and recovery. That’s why we are shining a light on it,” Dintino said. “Since we are having such good results, we are looking to expand the program and continue it in our community.”

To learn more about the Discovering Sexual Health in Recovery or to join the weekly classes, call Stepping Stone at (619) 584-4010.

Founded in 1976, Stepping Stone is a non-profit alcohol and drug recovery agency that offers a variety of social model recovery programs incorporating the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Stepping Stone operates a 28-bed long-term residential recovery facility, a day recovery program, sober living opportunities as well as homeless outreach, referrals, education, prevention and social support programs. Stepping Stone is one of only three residential facilities in the state that specifically targets the GLBT community.