Pubdate: Sun, 04 Dec 2005
Source: Advocate, The (US)
Copyright: 2005 Liberation Publications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.advocate.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3266
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS SECURE METH FUNDS FOR NYC COMMUNITY CENTER

Congressman Jerrold Nadler, along with senators Chuck Schumer and 
Hillary Clinton, all New York Democrats, announced Thursday they had 
secured $825,000 in federal funding for crystal methamphetamine 
treatment and prevention services at New York City's Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center.

"Today is World AIDS Day, and we all know of the powerful connection 
between crystal meth abuse and HIV seroconversion," says Richard 
Burns, the center's executive director, in a press release. "The AIDS 
epidemic is not over and is being fueled by this addiction. This 
support from Congressman Nadler and senators Schumer and Clinton will 
enable the center to expand our prevention and intervention response 
for people in crisis with this drug. We are very grateful to our 
representatives who have been champions for our cause in Congress."

Barbara Warren, the center's director of research and planning, says 
the federal funds will be used to enhance the center's 
community-based crystal meth prevention and education campaigns; 
expand and improve how the organization conducts early intervention 
and relapse prevention outreach for crystal meth users; and extend 
help and support to other gay, AIDS, and substance abuse treatment 
organizations to build a network of more effective crystal meth 
prevention and treatment services in New York.

Schumer and Nadler spoke of the serious threat that crystal meth use 
in New York has posed to the health of the city's gay, lesbian, 
bisexual, and transgender residents. "The best way to turn this trend 
around is to get federal funds into the hands of front-line service 
providers like the center," Nadler said in a press statement. "Today 
we're demonstrating that the center has Congress's full support."

To learn more about the center and its services, go online to 
www.gaycenter.org. (Advocate.com)
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman