Members of SCDI’s Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment program recently took part in a regional knowledge exchange coordinated by Hanoi Medical University with the goal of promoting mutual learning between grantees implementing Chemsex harm reduction interventions across Southeast Asia.

SCDI members had the opportunity to visit Men’s Health Cambodia (MHC) — a community-based organization providing comprehensive support for stimulant users engaged in Chemsex. During the field trip, we learned about MHC’s community outreach strategies, mental health support services, and the challenges they navigate while serving key populations.

Photo: Members of SCDI’s Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment visit Men’s Health Cambodia (MHC), a community-based organization in Cambodia.

This visit was especially valuable for our ongoing project - Community Field-Lab for Stimulant Harm Reduction, with a focus on Chemsex Interventions, supported by ViiV Healthcare. Our initiative aims to close existing gaps in Vietnam’s harm reduction landscape by reaching high-risk groups such as people who use drugs, sex workers, MSM, and transgender individuals who engage in Chemsex involving multiple substances.

Cross-country learning plays a critical role in strengthening the quality and responsiveness of community-led harm reduction efforts. This field visit gave us fresh insights into the shared and unique challenges in implementing Chemsex interventions and laid a strong foundation for future collaboration in the region.