The City of West Hollywood to Call Attention to the Growing Crystal Meth Epidemic in Los Angeles County's LGBT Community at a News Conference and Town Hall Forum on Wednesday, April 11, 2007.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- The City of West Hollywood will address the growing crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth) epidemic in Los Angeles County's gay and lesbian communities and unveil part of a new prevention campaign during a news conference on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. at West Hollywood City Hall, 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard. Crystal meth, also known as speed or crank, is a highly addictive, toxic substance that induces feelings of euphoria and invincibility in its users.

West Hollywood Councilmember John Duran, Kathy Watt, Executive Director of Van Ness Recovery House; and Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will speak at the news conference. Dr. Fielding will present statistical data on crystal meth in Los Angeles County. At the conference, three public service announcements will also be unveiled. The public service announcements (PSAs) were created by IN Los Angeles Magazine as part of their community meth prevention campaign.

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, an estimated 1.3 million adolescents and adults in the United States have used crystal meth in the past year, including one half million who have used it in the past month. The 2005 Los Angeles County Health Survey (LACHS) indicates that 1.4% of all adults 18 years and older, or approximately 100,000 persons reported using crystal meth at least once in the past year. The LACHS found that crystal meth use was higher among those 18 to 29 years of age compared to those 30 and older. The prevalence was also higher among men who identified as gay or bisexual compared to those who identified as heterosexual.

Crystal meth is known for its sexual arousal effects leading people to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. It is estimated that nearly 30 percent of people testing HIV positive at West Hollywood testing sites reported using crystal meth within 6 months prior to testing. This finding is consistent with other studies that have found high rates of crystal meth use among gay men, an important contributor to the ongoing HIV epidemic.

The City of West Hollywood will host its fourth in a series of town hall forums entitled "Cracking Crystal: Treatment and Care Options for Ourselves and Our Loved Ones" on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium, 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard. Admission to the event is free.

Councilmember Duran, a person in alcohol recovery for more than 10 years, will be the moderator of the forum. Scheduled panelists include: Dr. David Hardy, Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Lauren Wolf, Rainbow Bridge Community Services; Phil Hendricks, AIDS Project Los Angeles; Sam Mongiello, 12-step participant; Dr. Matt Torrington, Medical Director, Prometa and Psychiatrist Bernard Beirman, MD.

The panel will discuss treatment options including residential treatment, 12-step programs, psychiatric/mental health interventions, chemical treatment, and programming developed for friends and family members affected by a love one's use of this horrific drug.

For more information, please contact 323-848-6410. For the hearing impaired, please call 323-848-6496.