The San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council, a coalition of 40 local GLBT and GLBT-friendly business and community leaders, is joining the fight against crystal methamphetamine use in San Diego’s GLBT community. The council will work in partnership with local organizations and individuals to develop community education forums and seminars amid growing concerns about crystal meth abuse across the nation.

“It is the clear, overwhelming desire of the group to engage in a communitywide dialogue and action on the topic,” said Robert Gleason, chair of the San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council.

The council, which meets on the first Thursday of every month at The Center, functions as a network for groups to exchange information, coordinate activities and collaborate on projects.

Alberto Cortés, executive director of Mama’s Kitchen, said the council’s plans are still in the formative stage, but representatives from a broad range of community businesses and groups are interested in participating.

Active leadership council participants include agencies and individuals involved in medicine, healthcare, recovery and HIV/AIDS services, as well as bar and restaurant owners and community organizations like San Diego LGBT Pride and The Center, all of whom plan to educate about and combat meth use in ways that will have an impact in their respective areas. The leadership council serves as the hub to coordinate activities and resources.

“As a member of the leadership council and the San Diego community, Pride is very concerned with the growing crystal meth use,” said Suanne Pauley, executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride. “We will play an active role at our event this year to provide education and outreach along with a no-tolerance policy.”

Recent substance abuse studies and social marketing projects conducted by Stepping Stone, a local nonprofit recovery organization, have highlighted the issue locally, as has the recent death of prominent bar owner and community leader John McCusker due in part to drug intoxication.

San Diego joins other large cities such as San Francisco and New York in creating effective anti-meth campaigns to combat the epidemic among gay men and the GLBT community at large. In addition to meth’s devastating physical, mental and social effects, studies have shown a connection between meth use and increased risk of contracting HIV.

“The reality is, in dealing with HIV other co-factors such as substance use are truly a critical issue,” Cortés said, “both solely substance use and specifically meth use, and how that impacts behavior.”

Those interested in participating in the San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council should contact Dr. Delores Jacobs, chief executive officer of The Center, at djacobs@thecentersd.org.