Chicago Opens LGBTQ+ Addiction Center on North Side

When Bryce Beliveau found an LGBTQ+ affirming treatment center in Los Angeles four years ago, it changed everything about his recovery journey from crystal meth addiction.

Now, the 27-year-old is celebrating as that same organization brings specialized care to Chicago. No Matter What Recovery opened its new outpatient facility near Halsted and Belmont this week, addressing what health officials call a growing drug epidemic in the LGBTQ+ community.

"It was the first time I found a true LGBTQ+ affirming environment and for me, it completely changed my entire life," Beliveau 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."

For years, Beliveau cycled in and out of traditional treatment programs that didn't address his specific needs. When he finally found specialized care, everything clicked.

Now he works helping others find their path to sobriety. "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 Ripple Effect

The new facility focuses on three interconnected challenges: substance use, mental health, and what experts call "chemsex," the combination of drug use and sexual activity that creates unique treatment needs.

Chief Clinical Officer Jessica Steinman points to stark statistics that make this work urgent. Research shows LGBTQ+ individuals are twice as likely to struggle with addiction compared to the general population, often due to trauma and discrimination.

"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," Steinman said. The center offers individual therapy, group sessions, and programs supporting mental, physical, and spiritual wellness.

For Beliveau, thinking about what this facility means for someone struggling in southern Illinois today brings it all into focus. "Had this been here when I was struggling, I think I would have found care so much easier and so much quicker," he said.

The doors are open, and recovery is waiting.