Using New Media to Prevent Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS for Populations at High Risk (Short Title: SA & HIV/AIDS Prevention & New Media)

The purpose of this Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) program is to use new media to promote targeted SA and HIV prevention messages to racial/ethnic populations at high risk for SA and HIV infection. The SA and HIV/AIDS Prevention and New Media program is intended to leverage the expertise of past and present SAMHSA CSAP MAI grantees. The program aims to decrease prejudice and discrimination by giving those at risk of contracting HIV the opportunity to share their stories online, allowing for interaction with others in their community, and encouraging healthy behaviors. In addition, volunteer peer mentors/coaches will be used to train and encourage racial/ethnic populations/subpopulations of focus to participate in SA and HIV prevention programs. This program will use new media (e.g., interactive forms of communication that use the Internet including podcasts, RSS [really simple syndication] feeds, social networks, mobile health applications, text messaging, blogs, wikis, virtual worlds, and more) to communicate targeted prevention messages around SA and HIV/AIDS.