In an email to TheBody, Grov explained the study’s definition of “persistent” meth use as slightly vague, because researchers measured a year prior to enrollment, though their enrollment survey only asked about the prior three months. These assessments were repeated after 12 months. On recruitment, participants took an oral HIV self-test and were asked about their use of methamphetamine. Ninety-eight percent of the 4,786 participants were cisgender men, 54% were white, and 41% were college educated. Study subjects were all HIV negative, between 16 and 49 years old, and not taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), though some started PrEP during the survey period. Led by Christian Grov, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the City University of New York, researchers recruited subjects in 20 through ads in gay hookup apps.
