San Francisco Public Health Officials Allocate Funds To Fight Methamphetamine Addiction

San Francisco public health officials on Tuesday announced that they have allocated $425,000 to combat methamphetamine use among gay men as part of an effort to prevent the spread of HIV, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Health experts say there is a connection between methamphetamine use and high-risk sexual behavior in men who have sex with men that may contribute to increasing HIV infections. Steve Tierney, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health HIV Prevention, said that the grants are an "important first step," and San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty said that he hopes the funds may reduce wait lists for community substance abuse programs. The Chronicle reports that $250,000 of the funds will go to programs aimed at gay, bisexual and transgender youth, while $100,000 will go to the Stonewall Project, a program that provides counseling services to gay men who are addicted to methamphetamine, and the remaining $75,000 will go to New Leaf Services for Our Community, a counseling center focused on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities (Heredia, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/22).