Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (10.23.03) - Wednesday,
On Oct. 21, San Francisco's health department announced a
$425,000 allocation to help prevent and treat crystal
methamphetamine addiction in the gay community. The funding -
an increase from the $300,000 originally allocated for the
problem - will help eliminate clinic waiting lists for speed
users and develop new adolescent and young adult HIV and
substance abuse services.
"These initiatives result from my City Services Committee
hearings that underscored the epidemic of crystal meth and the
need for specific services to prevent adolescents and young
adults from becoming hooked on crystal and seroconverting
because of high-risk behavior," said committee chair and city
Supervisor Bevan Dufty. "We need quick intervention when young
people arrive in the Castro without resources. Otherwise,
these young people become dependent upon meth, the sex trade,
and enter a cycle of homelessness that's tough to break," said
Dufty.
The city's AIDS Office is awarding $75,000 to New Leaf:
Services for Our Community and $100,000 to the Stonewall
Project to help reduce their waiting lists.
"The biggest increase in the last several years is the number
of men coming in with crystal meth problems," said New Leaf
Executive Director Joseph Neisen, who reported that most
clients get in after little more than a week's wait. Six
staffers, all but one full-time, work on substance abuse
cases. Each handles about 20 active clients.
At Stonewall, where 45 clients are on a waiting list, the
extra money will be used to increase staff. Currently, four
counselors work part-time, and 50 men are in the program. The
bulk of the money will go to hiring staff to reduce the wait
for services, said Executive Director Michael Siever.
The city director of HIV prevention, Steven Tierney, will
oversee a $250,000 allocation to community organizations
skilled in working with groups ages 13-17 and 18-24 who face
HIV risk and substance abuse. One potential agency is Ohlhoff
Recovery Programs, whose executive director, Barbara Farrell,
met with Dufty and Tierney last week to discuss her agency's
assistance.