The DC Center

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Meeting September 1st

2009-08-14T17:31:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday September 1st from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. To find out more visit: www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Expands Focus

2009-07-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be August 4th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The Working Group is currently planning the final two events in their health series and beginning to plan next year's activities. Next year the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will expand it's focus to include both prevention and referral to treatment for addictive substances in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community.

Caron Awards Breakfast Honors Michael Rubin and Ed Craft

2009-06-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

Michael Rubin, a member of the Crystal Meth Working Group, and Ed Craft, former DC Center board member, will receive Community Service Awards from Caron at its 2009 Breakfast on Tuesday, June 23rd.

Micheal Rubin will receive the Addiction Professional of the Year Award, and Ed Craft will receive the Educational Excellence Award.

The breakfast will be held on the Tuesday, June 23rd at 8:00 AM at Maggiano's in Friendship Heights, 5333 Wisconsin Ave NW. Tickets are $30.

Crystal Meth Working Group to Meet July 7th

2009-06-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday, July 7th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group recently held A Community Update on HIV Prevention Research and sponsored a the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington performance of Through a Glass Darkly,

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved. To find out more click here or visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

Gay Men's Chorus This Weekend!

2009-06-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington will kick off Capital Pride singing about the wonderful people who love us, support us and stick with us through thick and thin. The first half of the show is a powerful and inspiring celebration of the beauty of friends and lovers. The second half will feature the East Coast premiere of through a glass, darkly, one of the edgiest new theater pieces ever commissioned by a gay chorus. Composed by Michael Shaieb for three actors, dancers and chorus, the piece wrestles with a burgeoning crisis in the GLBT community: crystal meth addiction. Very simply, it is a story of a young man addicted to meth, and how it changes his life and the lives of the people around him. The music captures the hard-driven sound of the club scene with a combination of electronica and more traditional choral singing. Commissioned and first performed by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus in March, 2008 to sold-out audiences, the piece passionately reinforces the truth that, with friends, we gain the insight to see life more clearly.

Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 8 pm
Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 3 pm (ASL Interpreted)

Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University
730 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052

Singing through the Silence

2009-05-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

DC Bilerico has a great article by Dan O'Neil, chair of The DC Center HIV Working Group, talking about how the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington will tackle the issue of Crystal Meth Addiction in their next concert. He writes:

The members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington (GMCW) will make a bold move this summer to break the silence surrounding this problem - through song. GMCW will feature Through a Glass, Darkly, as part of its June show about friendship and recognition that our lives and relationships are worth both celebrating and saving. On this latter count, Through a Glass, Darkly, an award-winning and Emmy-nominated production created by Michael Shaieb for the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus, explores the life of a meth-addict, Sebastian, and how his addiction affects both himself and lives of those around him.

To read the entire article, click here

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Meeting June 2nd

2009-05-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday, June 2nd from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The next event in the DCCMWG health series, A Community Update on HIV Prevention Research, takes place May 14th at the HRC Equality Center.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group is also sponsoring the Gay Men's Chorus performance of Through a Glass Darkly,

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved. To find out more click here or visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

DC Crystal Meth Working Group to Meet May 5th

2009-04-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday, May 5th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group is currently planning two upcoming events in their gay men's health series. First, Addicted to Sex? takes place Tuesday April 28th. The second, A Community Update on HIV Prevention Research, takes place May 14th.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group is also sponsoring the Gay Men's Chorus performance of Through a Glass Darkly, and preparing for Pride Outreach!

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved. To find out more click here or visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington presents Through a Glass Darkly

2009-04-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington will be performing "Through a Glass Darkly," one of the edgiest new theater pieces ever commissioned by a gay chorus.

Composed by Michael Shaieb for three actors, dancers and chorus, the piece wrestles with a burgeoning crisis in the GLBT community: methamphetamine addiction. Very simply, it is a story of a young man addicted to crystal meth, and how it changes his life and the lives of the people around him.

The music captures the hard-driven sound of the club scene with a combination of electronica and more traditional choral singing. Commissioned and first performed by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus in March, 2008 to sold-out audiences, the piece reinforces the truth that, with friends, we might gain the insight to see life more clearly.

The East Coast Premier is sponsored by the DC Center's Crystal Meth Working Group.

"Through a Glass Darkly" is the second half of GMCW's kickoff of Pride Week show. The first half is a tribute to the joys of friendship.

The show will be on June 6th at 8 PM and an ASL interpreted version will be on June 7th at 3 PM. Both shows will be at the Lisner Auditorium at GW, 730 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052 .

"Addicted to Sex?" - April 28

2009-04-07T14:16:00.001-07:00

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group will host a workshop "Addicted to Sex?" on Tuesday, April 28 at 6 p.m. at Whitman-Walker Clinic, located at 1701 14th Street, NW. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Sex addiction is a destructive and difficult problem. It can destroy relationships, self-esteem and physical health, and can lead to job loss and even arrest.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group, which provides hands-on resources and information, presents this free workshop for people dealing with the issues surrounding sexual compulsion/addiction, including the use and abuse of crystal meth.

The workshop will be facilitated by Dr. David C. Bissette , a licensed clinical psychologist, who has a private practice in Alexandria, VA.

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Meeting April 7th

2009-03-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday, April 7th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group is currently: planning upcoming events in their gay men's health series, preparing for pride season outreach, and working to support and get the word out about the Gay Men's Chorus performance of Through a Glass, Darkly.

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved. To find out more click here or visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Meeting March 3rd

2009-02-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday, March 3rd from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group is currently: planning upcoming events in their gay men's health series, preparing for pride season outreach, and working to support and get the word out about the Gay Men's Chorus performance of Through a Glass, Darkly.

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved. To find out more click here or visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

DC Crystal Meth Meeting February 3rd

2009-01-11T12:35:00.000-08:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday, February 3rd from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group is currently creating a series of youtube video clips featuring the stories of recovering crystal meth addicts in the DC area (click here to watch the first video with Jimmy Garza).

We're also planning future events around gay, bi, and trans men's health and wellness. Topics include mental health, transgender men's health, hiv prevention research, and anal health.

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved. To find out more click here or visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

Recovery from Crystal Meth: One Man's Story

2008-12-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group has released it's first video featuring Jimmy Garza talking about his recovery from crystal meth addiction.

This is a first in a series of videos the group will do with local gay, bisexual, and transgender men talking about health and wellness issues that impact our lives and our community.

If you are interested in telling your story, or assisting with the video project, please e-mail videoproject@thedccenter.org.

Watch our first video below or at www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Meeting January 6th

2008-12-03T15:58:00.000-08:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday, January 6th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group is currently creating a series of youtube video clips featuring the stories of recovering crystal meth addicts in the DC area. We're also planning future events around gay, bi, and trans men's health and wellness.

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved. To find out more click here or visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

The State of Gay Men's Health in the District

2008-10-15T10:58:00.001-07:00

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group invites you to The State of Gay Men's Health: A Debrief from the National Gay Men's Health Summit This panel discussion will take place Thursday November 6th at 7:00 PM at the Frank D. Reeves Center. The Reeves Center is located at 2000 14th Street NW, Washington DC, convenient to the U/Street African-American Museum/Cardozo Metro on the Green/Yellow Line.

The National Gay Men's Health Summit, which focuses on gay, bisexual, and transgender men's health, takes place October 17th-21st in Seattle. Several DC residents will be attending the summit, including four members of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group. This panel discussion will give us an opportunity to share what was learned at the summit and begin a dialogue about gay men's health and wellness in the District of Columbia. Please join us!

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Raises Awareness about Crystal Meth and HIV Among Latinos in Washington DC

2008-10-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group is hoping to raise awareness about the prevalence of crystal meth and HIV within the Latino community by unveiling a new website and outreach materials, the group announced today.

To commemorate National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, which is October 15, the DC Crystal Meth Working Group is debuting a Spanish version of its website. The site contains basic information about crystal meth, its effects and where to go to seek treatment or harm reduction services. The new Spanish language site can be found at www.hablemosdelcristal.org.

“This new website is part of our ongoing efforts to reach out to the Latino community,” said Michael Sessa, chairperson of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group. “We are still learning the extent of crystal meth use within this population, but to the extent that there may be use at all, we want to provide resources and referrals.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latino Americans and African-Americans continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Crystal meth use has been tied to an increase in HIV rates among some populations.

In addition to the new website, the DC Crystal Meth Working Group has transcribed its brochure and palm card into Spanish to reach more people within the community. On September 28, the group participated in Fiesta DC, a Latino cultural festival in Adams Morgan.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community and local organizations dedicated to providing information and resources that help people make informed choices about crystal meth. The group also collects data about crystal meth use and provides referral information for treatment and recovery. To learn more about the group visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

DC Crystal Meth Group Sends Four Members to National Gay Men's Health Summit.

2008-09-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday October 7th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be sending four members to attend the National Gay Men's Health Summit, taking place October 17th-21st. When we get back, we'll be planning a health series for gay, bisexual, and transgender men.

The group is also making plans to do outreach at Fiesta DC, and working on creating some spanish-language resources.

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved. To find out more visit: www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Meeting September 2nd

2008-08-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be Tuesday September 2nd from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350.

Currently, the group is making plans to do outreach at Fiesta DC, and working on creating some spanish-language resources.

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved. To find out more visit: www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Meeting

2008-07-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

DC Crystal Meth Working Group has just wrapped up a busy Pride Season, conducting outreach and surveys at numerous Pride events.

Currently we're making plans for 2009, and looking at other outreach events this year. We're a group of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved.

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth WOrking Group will be Tuesday August 5th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. Please join us.

Kristen Degan Honored by Caron Foundation

2008-06-21T06:09:00.000-07:00

Kristen Degan, a member of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group, will be recognized by CARON Comprenesive Addiction Treatment at their 4th Annual Washington Metropolitan Area Community Service Awards Breakfast on Friday June 27th. The Awards Breakfast recognizes individuals that have made an outstanding contribution in the on-going battle against addiction to alcohol and drugs in our community.

Degan, a staff member at the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, will receive the Research award for her work coordinating the DC Crystal Meth Working Group Surveys.

For more information visit the CARON website.

DCCMWG: Next Meeting July 1st

2008-06-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

The DC Crytstal Meth Working Group has had a busy couple months. In April, the group was a co-sponsor of the DC Premiere of Meth the Movie at the Jewish Community Center. In May, the group sponsored a screening of the film Tweakers at the E Street Theater.

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group has also done outreach and conducted surveys at Black Pride, and Youth Pride and is gearing up for Latino Pride and Capital Pride.

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Now is a great time to get involved.

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth WOrking Group will be Tuesday July 1st from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. Please join us.

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Meeting Tuesday June 3rd

2008-05-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group generally meets the first Tuesday of every month at The DC Center. The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 3rd at 7:00 PM at The Center (1111 14th Street NW Suite 350).

The D.C. Crystal Meth Working Group consists of individual members of the local community dedicated to education and treatement advocacy around methamphetamine. Please join us!

DCCMWG: Tweakers Screening

2008-05-09T17:45:00.001-07:00

The film Tweakers had it's DC premiere at E Street Theater on Thursday May 8th. The DC Crystal Meth Working Group sponsored the screening of the film.

The film was followed by a panel discussion featuring film Director Jimmy Palmieri and included two men who spoke candidly about their experience as recovering crystal meth addicts. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success. You can see pictures from the screening here.

Free Screening of Tweakers at E Street Theater May 8th

2008-05-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group invites you to a free screening of the film Tweakers on Thursday May 8th at 7:00 PM at the Landmark E-Street Cinema, 555 11th Street NW. The screening will include comments from Director Jimmy Palmieri.

Tweakers is based on a series of true events in the lives of real addicts battling their own demons as well as the ones that are brought on by the use and abuse of this drug. There are stories of those who have succumbed to crystal meth and then pulled their lives out again, and sadly some who haven't.

download the flyer for this event.