Jesse Fletcher, Ph.D. – Friends Research Institute

Jesse Fletcher, Ph.D.
Research Scientist

Ph.D., Sociology, University of California, Riverside
jfletcher@friendsresearch.org
Phone: 323-463-1601
Fax: 323-463-0126

Brief Biography

Jesse has worked at FRI for over a dozen years, during which time he has served as a Statistician, Project Director, Project Manager, and Research Scientist. He has developed or co-developed over a dozen grant applications (e.g., NIH, SAMHSA, HRSA, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health) during this time, primarily focused in the areas of Addiction Medicine and HIV Treatment/Prevention. He has published over fifty peer-reviewed journal articles in these topic areas; most examined health disparities disproportionately affecting sexual and gender minorities, including men who have sex with men, as well as trans feminine persons. He is currently a Principal Investigator on two NIH-funded grants; one is on the topic of gender identity, while the other seeks to develop an intervention for persons living with HIV and using substances. He is also currently a Co-Investigator (PI: Mitchell) on a NIDA-funded clinical trial testing the effects of a smartphone app to reduce polysubstance use in methadone treatment. Dr. Fletcher has served on the UCLA Data and Safety Monitoring Board as a biostatistician in the field of Addiction Medicine for over a decade, during which time he has overseen the implementation of several large clinical trials while providing guidance and oversight. He’s an avid musician and proud father.

Selected Publications

Comulada WS, Step M, Fletcher JB, Tanner AE, Dowshen NL, Arayasirikul S, Baker KK, ZunigaJ, Swendeman D, Medich M (2020). Predictors of Internet Health Information–Seeking Behaviors Among Young Adults Living With HIV Across the United States: Longitudinal Observational Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research 22(11), e18309.

Gerke DR, Step MM, Rünger D, Fletcher JB, Brooks RA, Davis N, Kisler KA, Reback CJ (2020). Associations Between Social Support and Social Media Use Among Young Adult Cisgender MSM and Transgender Women Living With HIV. Health Promotion Practice 21(5), 705-715.

Anderson-Carpenter KD, Fletcher JB, Swendeman D, Reback CJ (2019). Associations Between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Substance Use Disorder Severity Among Methamphetamine-using Men Who Have Sex with Men Substance Use & Misuse 54(11):1763-1773. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1610445. Epub 2019 May 10. PMID: 31075997.

Reback CJ, Clark K, & Fletcher JB (2019). TransAction: A Homegrown, Theory-based, HIV Risk Reduction Intervention for Extremely High-risk Transgender Women Experiencing Multiple Health Disparities Sexuality Research and Social Policy 16(4): 408-418. DOI: 10.1007/s13178-018-0356-7.

Reback CJ, Clark K, Fletcher JB, Holloway IW (2019). A Multilevel Analysis of Social Network Characteristics and Technology Use on HIV Risk and Protective Behaviors Among Transgender Women AIDS and Behavior 23(5):1353-1367. doi: 10.1007/s10461-019-02391-1. PMID: 30617525.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB, Fehrenbacher AE, Kisler K (2019). Text Messaging to Improve Linkage, Retention, and Health Outcomes Among HIV-Positive Young Transgender Women: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Text Me, Girl!) JMIR Res Protoc. 8(7):e12837. doi: 10.2196/12837. PMID: 31359867.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB, Leibowitz AA (2019). Cost effectiveness of text messages to reduce methamphetamine use and HIV sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 100:59-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.02.006. Epub 2019 Feb 27. PMID: 30898329.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB, Swendeman DA, Metzner M (2019). Theory-Based Text-Messaging to Reduce Methamphetamine Use and HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Automated Unidirectional Delivery Outperforms Bidirectional Peer Interactive Delivery AIDS and Behavior 23(1):37-47. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2225-z. PMID: 30006792.

Clark K, Fletcher JB, Holloway IW, Reback CJ (2018). Structural Inequities and Social Networks Impact Hormone Use and Misuse Among Transgender Women in Los Angeles County Archives of Sexual Behavior 47(4):953-962. doi: 10.1007/s10508-017-1143-x. Epub 2018 Jan 8. PMID: 29313190.

Fletcher JB, Swendeman D, Reback CJ (2018). Associations Between Major Depressive Episode, Methamphetamine Use Disorder Severity, and Engagement in Sexual Risk-Taking Among Methamphetamine-Using Men Who Have Sex with Men AIDS and Behavior 22(5):1461-1466. doi: 10.1007/s10461-017-1974-4. PMID: 29164354.

Fletcher JB, Swendeman D, Reback CJ (2018). Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Comorbidity among Methamphetamine-Using Men Who have Sex with Men Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 50(3):206-213. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2018.1447173. Epub 2018 Apr 2. PMID: 29608132.

Reback CJ, Clark K, Holloway IW, Fletcher JB (2018). Health Disparities, Risk Behaviors and Healthcare Utilization Among Transgender Women in Los Angeles County: A Comparison from 1998-1999 to 2015-2016 AIDS and Behavior 22(8):2524-2533. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2165-7. PMID: 29804273.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB (2018). Elevated HIV and STI Prevalence and Incidence Among Methamphetamine-Using Men Who Have Sex With Men in Los Angeles County AIDS Education and Prevention 30(4):350-356. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2018.30.4.350. PMID: 30148668.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB, Swendeman D (2018). Associations between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Methamphetamine-using Men who Have Sex with Men Substance Use & Misuse 53(11):1826-1833. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2018.1436566. Epub 2018 Feb 12. PMID: 29432057.

Reback CJ, Rünger D, Fletcher JB, Swendeman D (2018). Ecological momentary assessments for self-monitoring and counseling to optimize methamphetamine treatment and sexual risk reduction outcomes among gay and bisexual men Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 92:17-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2018.06.005. Epub 2018 Jun 15. PMID: 30032940.

Anderson-Carpenter KD, Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2017). Associations between Methamphetamine Use, Housing Status, and Incarceration Rates among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women Journal of Drug Issues 47(3):383-395. doi: 10.1177/0022042617696917. Epub 2017 Mar 9. PMID: 28670005.

Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2017). Mental health disorders among homeless, substance-dependent men who have sex with men Drug and Alcohol Review 36(4):555-559. doi: 10.1111/dar.12446. Epub 2016 Aug 12. PMID: 27516073.

Kussin-Shoptaw AL, Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2017). Physical and/or Sexual Abuse Is Associated with Increased Psychological and Emotional Distress Among Transgender Women LGBT Health 4(4):268-274. doi: 10.1089/lgbt.2016.0186. Epub 2017 May 12. PMID: 28498023.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB (2017). Outcomes from a Homegrown HIV Prevention Program for Extremely High-risk, Substance-using Men who have Sex with Men with Multiple Health Disparities Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services DOI: 10.1080/10538720.2017.1296394.

Reback CJ, Rünger D, Fletcher JB (2017). Physical and/or Sexual Abuse Are Associated with Negative Health Outcomes among Transgender Women of Color Living with HIV Violence and Gender 4(4): 130-136. DOI: 10.1089/vio.2017.0042.

Rusow JA, Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2017). Sexual Venue Choice and Sexual Risk-Taking Among Substance-Using Men Who have Sex with Men AIDS and Behavior 21(4):1149-1162. doi: 10.1007/s10461-016-1630-4. PMID: 27905014.

Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2016). Mental health disorders among homeless, substance-dependent men who have sex with men Drug and Alcohol Review doi: 10.1111/dar.12446.

Rusow JA, Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2016). Sexual Venue Choice and Sexual Risk-Taking Among Substance-Using Men Who have Sex with Men. AIDS and Behavior 1-14.

Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2015). Depression Mediates and Moderates Effects of Methamphetamine Use on Sexual Risk Taking Among Treatment-Seeking Gay and Bisexual Men. Health Psychology 34(8):865-9. doi: 10.1037/hea0000207. Epub 2015 Jan 12. PMID: 25581704.

Landovitz RJ, Fletcher JB, Shoptaw S, Reback CJ (2015). Contingency management facilitates the use of postexposure prophylaxis among stimulant-using men who have sex with men. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 1;2(1):ofu114. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofu114. eCollection 2015 Jan. PMID: 25884003. PMCID: PMC4396429.

Reback CJ, Ferlito D, Kisler KA and Fletcher JB (2015). Recruiting, Linking, and Retaining High-risk Transgender Women into HIV Prevention and Care Services: An Overview of Barriers, Strategies, and Lessons Learned International Journal of Transgenderism 16(4): 209-221. DOI: 10.1080/15532739.2015.1081085.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB, Shoptaw S, Mansergh G (2015). Exposure to Theory-Driven Text Messages is Associated with HIV Risk Reduction Among Methamphetamine-Using Men Who have Sex with Men. AIDS and Behavior 19 Suppl 2:130-41. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0985-7. PMID: 25563501.

Fletcher JB, Dierst-Davies R, Reback CJ (2014). Contingency management voucher redemption as an indicator of delayed gratification Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 47(1):73-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2014.03.003. Epub 2014 Mar 12.PMID:24674235.

Fletcher JB, Kisler KA, Reback CJ (2014). Housing Status and HIV Risk Behaviors among Transgender Women in Los Angeles Archives of Sexual Behavior 43: 1651-1661. DOI: 10.1007/s10508-014-0368-1.

Fletcher JB, Shoptaw S, Peck JA, Reback CJ (2014). Contingency Management Reduces Symptoms of Psychological and Emotional Distress among Homeless, Substance-dependent Men Who Have Sex with Men Mental Health and Substance Use 7(4):420-430.PMID:25364379.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB (2014). HIV prevalence, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors among transgender women recruited through outreach AIDS and Behavior 18(7):1359-67. doi: 10.1007/s10461-013-0657-z.PMID:24287786.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB (2014). Reductions in HIV prevalence rates among substance-using men who have sex with men in Los Angeles County, 2008-2011. AIDS Education and Prevention 26(5):459-70.doi: 10.1521/aeap.2014.26.5.459.PMID:25299809.

Rusow JA, Fletcher JB, Le H, Reback CJ (2014). Sexual Abuse is Associated with Negative Health Consequences among High-risk Men who have Sex with Men Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services 26(2):244-257.PMID:25505831.

Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2013). Antisocial personality disorder predicts methamphetamine treatment outcomes in homeless, substance-dependent men who have sex with men. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 45(3):266-72.

Fletcher JB, Rusow JA, Le H, Landovitz RJ, Reback CJ (2013). High-risk sexual behavior is associated with postexposure prophylaxis nonadherence among men who have sex with men enrolled in a combination prevention intervention Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases 210403. doi:10.1155/2013/210403.

Reback CJ, Fletcher JB, Shoptaw S, Grella CE (2013). Methamphetamine and other substance use trends among street-recruited men who have sex with men, from 2008 to 2011 Drug and Alcohol Dependence 133 (1), 262-265.

Bowers JR, Branson CM, Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2012). Predictors of HIV sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men, men who have sex with men and women, and transgender women International Journal of Sexual Health 24 (4), 290-302.

Landovitz RJ, Fletcher JB, Inzhakova G, Lake JE, Shoptaw S, Reback CJ (2012). A novel combination HIV prevention strategy: Post-exposure prophylaxis with contingency management for substance abuse treatment among methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men AIDS Patient Care and STDs 26 (6), 320-328.

Reback CJ, Grant DL, Fletcher JB, Branson CM, Shoptaw S, Bowers JR, Charania M, Mansergh G (2012). Text messaging reduces HIV risk behaviors among methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men AIDS and Behavior 16 (7), 1993-2002.

Reback CJ, Peck JA, Fletcher JB, Nuno M, Dierst-Davies R (2012). Lifetime substance use and HIV sexual risk behaviors predict treatment response to contingency management among homeless, substance-dependent MSM Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 44 (2), 166-172.

Bowers JR, Branson CM, Fletcher JB, Reback CJ (2011). Differences in substance use and sexual partnering between men who have sex with men, men who have sex with men and women and transgender women Culture, Health, and Sexuality 13 (6), 629-642.