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)