8.1. Study setting and population

This study was conducted as part of the Collaborating Consortium of Cohorts Producing National Institute of Drug Abuse Opportunities (C3PNO). Details of the participating cohorts and other methodology have been previously described (Gorbach et al., 2021), but in sum, the C3PNO is comprised of nine NIDA funded cohorts located in major cities throughout North America (Baltimore, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Vancouver) with a combined sample size of up to 12,000 active participants. Three of the C3PNO cohorts follow a diverse group of SGM youth and young adults (including young men who have sex with men, transgender women, and non-binary people assigned male at birth). These include the mSTUDY and HYM studies (both in Los Angeles), as well as the RADAR study in Chicago (Schalet et al., 2020). Starting in May 2020, the Consortium launched a COVID-19 survey in order to examine changes in substance use, substance use disorder treatment, and HIV prevention and care in the midst of, and following, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each participating cohort administered the survey to a minimum of 200 participants who were eligible if they: (1) were enrolled in one of the eight participating C3PNO cohorts; (2) participated in a study visit in the preceding 12 months prior to launch of the COVID survey; (3) were English and/or Spanish speaking; and (4) willing and able to complete the survey remotely. Most participants had a recent history of substance use as determined by self-report. The survey was either self-administered through a web-based survey for participants that had computer and internet access, or interviewer administered by telephone for those participants without online access. The survey took approximately 20 min to complete, and participants were compensated for their time. The study was approved by the Institutional Review of Boards of the consortium cohorts, and each participant provided informed consent for their study participation.