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)