Chicago drug-treatment services need GLBT programs

A Chicago health department report says that city drug-treatment services need additional programs for the city's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender residents, the Chicago Tribune reports. Staff members at drug treatment centers also need cultural sensitivity training to better be able to treat gay clients, according to the report. The report says that although drug use in the GLBT community is widespread, particularly among gay men, drug treatment and counseling programs for gay and transgender city residents are "clearly lacking." "Substance abuse is an ongoing public health challenge that cuts across all lines of income, education, religion, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation," city health commissioner John Wilhelm said in a statement. "Yet, we believe that substance abuse numbers may be higher in the LGBT community due to the added challenges of homophobia, isolation, HIV infection, and so forth."