LA's No Matter What Recovery Expands to the Windy City; Free Open House May 2

Chicago welcomes Los Angeles-based No Matter What Recovery (NMWR), a dual-diagnosis substance abuse and mental health treatment program that has helped revolutionize recovery for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The new NMWR facility -- its first outside of California -- will open on May 4 in Chicago’s “Boystown” neighborhood. The public — especially those with loved ones facing addiction and mental health disorders — are invited to an open house on Saturday, May 2, from 8 am to 2 pm.

Founded by Anthony Arranaga-Grayson and his husband, Paulo Arranaga-Grayson, NMWR will operate from a 3,000-square-foot facility located at 3151 N. Halsted Street. The center will offer a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), including individual and group therapy during both daytime and evening hours, allowing clients to return home each day. The program has earned national recognition for its LGBTQ+ affirming care, particularly its work addressing the growing epidemic of chemsex and sexualized drug use.

During the May 2 open house, both Anthony and Paulo will be on hand along with clinical staff to answer questions and lead tours of the facility. Drag superstar Kendall Gender of “Canada’s Drag Race” season 2 will serve as host.

The decision to expand to Chicago is deeply personal for the founders. Paulo has longstanding ties to the city, having relocated there from New Orleans after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina—a time when he was struggling with addiction.

“I was in a terrible state when I arrived in Chicago,” Paulo recalls. “It was there that I met a nurse who changed my life by telling me, ‘Tonight is the night you can either choose to live or die.’ Her words hit me hard—it was the wake-up call I needed. That moment changed everything.”

“I met Paulo in recovery soon afterward, and together we found our way out of the darkness into the meaningful, productive lives we live today,” adds Anthony. “We built No Matter What Recovery in part from our own journey, and our team continues to change lives for the better. Establishing our brand of care in Chicago -- what we consider our second home -- felt like a natural next step.”

Known for its affirming and inclusive environment, NMWR supports clients from diverse backgrounds, many of whom have experienced discrimination, isolation, and rejection—factors that can contribute to mental health and substance use challenges. Research shows that LGBTQ+ adults are more than twice as likely as their heterosexual peers to use illicit drugs and nearly twice as likely to experience a substance use disorder.

To address these needs, NMWR offers a range of evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Clients also participate in specialized group sessions focused on trauma, relapse prevention, chemsex healing, and Internal Family Systems.

In Los Angeles, No Matter What Recovery operates five sober living homes serving up to 40 clients, as well as a 6-bed detox facility.

For more information, visit NoMatterWhatRecovery.com or call (312) 635-5229.

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No Matter What Recovery
City: Los Angeles
Address: 3409 W Temple St
Website: https://nomatterwhatrecovery.com/