No Matter What Recovery opened a new outpatient treatment facility on Chicago’s North Side near the corner of Halsted and Belmont, addressing addiction and what health officials describe as a growing drug epidemic impacting the LGBTQ+ community. The facility held an open house and focuses on treating substance use, mental health, and sexualized drug use. According to Jessica Steinman, NMWR Chief Clinical Officer, addiction is twice as likely to occur in the LGBTQ+ community due to trauma and other challenges faced by queer individuals. “With the LGBTQ community and having chemsex be such a big issue, we want to make sure they are coming to treatment feeling comfortable, feeling like they can be their open and true self in an environment that’s affirming and accepting and they can get some long term care,” Steinman said.
Bryce Beliveau, 27, attended the open house to celebrate the facility’s opening. Beliveau battled a crystal meth addiction and was in and out of treatment for years before finding recovery through a specialized program with No Matter What Recovery about four years ago in Los Angeles. “It was the first time I found a true LGBTQ+ affirming environment and for me, it completely changed my entire life,” he said. “I was thrust in this environment where all of my peers looked like me, talked like me, had a similar story and were all trying to heal.” He now works at the facility helping others with their sobriety journey. “I get to be the person that says ‘I hear you, I understand and I’ve lived this experience.’ Let me help you,” he said.
The facility’s care approach includes individual or group therapy sessions and programs designed to support the mind, body, and soul. Beliveau emphasized the importance of such a specialized facility being available in the Midwest, particularly for those struggling with addiction in underserved areas. “Bringing it to the Midwest, I think it’s so important because had I known that, had this been here when I was struggling down in southern Illinois, I think I would have found care so much easier and so much quicker,” he said. No Matter What Recovery opened for operations on Monday following the weekend celebration.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/new-lgbtq-treatment-facility-opens-in-chicago-to-address-drug-epidemic/3931085/