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Substance Abuse
Prevention & Treatment Issues "Research tells us that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are more likely to smoke, drink, and use other drugs, than our non-lgbt peers. We're less likely to abstain and more likely to continue heavy drinking into later life. Does this mean that we have higher rates of addiction and other serious substance abuse problems? Who knows? As an oppressed and often invisible population, we don't even know how many of us there really are, much less what percentage of us fall into any category. Even these labels - lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender - are arbitrary and by no means acceptable to all of those we describe this way. But there is one fact we know for sure - and it doesn't require one cent of further research to confirm: There is an appalling and unacceptable absence of substance abuse services and competencies throughout the continuum of care - from research funding, to public education and other social marketing, to targeted prevention, to effective treatment - to meet the needs of America's lgbt women and men. It's up to us to change that." The Connection Between Substance Use Among LGBT Populations A tremendous controversy exists over the exact rates of substance use within lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations (LGBT). It is frequently reported that people who are LGBT experience increased risk for substance use and abuse. Many sources report that one out of every three gay men and lesbians, or over 8 million LGBT men and women, struggle with alcohol and drug-related problems. But, this data is not universally accepted. Other research studies have found that moderate alcohol use rates in the LGBT communities are similar to those of the mainstream populations, but that the LGBT population is over-represented on both ends of the spectrum (those who abstain and those who are heavy drinkers). More research is needed in order for prevention and treatment efforts to target these communities effectively! Three main factors have made it difficult to determine the extent of the substance use and abuse in LGBT populations.
According to health professionals, it is crucial for outreach and prevention programs to reach people where they are. Counselors and service providers need to be sensitive to the issues faced by the LGBT population, and treatment facilities need to accept them without discrimination, without denying their sexuality, and without attempts to "cure" their sexual preference. LGBT-specific programs also lend assistance in establishing new social and emotional networks to maintain recovery and provide support from members of their community in maintaining a sober, drug-free life. LGBT-specific programs are also important for the families of the person struggling with addiction. The Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center's Project Connect program, the first LGBT-identified alcohol and drug provider in New York, currently serves 3,000 LGBT people per year. They report that more and more LGBT couples are coming in as families, with children, which makes it crucial that services provide appropriate comprehensive family-oriented support to the LGBT communities. 5 Key Facts Prevention Resources Treatment & Recovery Resources Club Drug Scene Quiz The APA Healthy Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Students Project On-line Database Counseling & Treatment Issues: An Annotated Bibliography |
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