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Approximately 12% of sexual minority young adults aged 18–25 report alcohol use disorder, compared to 10% in the overall population.
Frequently Used Drugs by LGBTQ Individuals
Members of the LGBTQ community use many different addictive substances, but the following substances are the ones that are most commonly used:
Tobacco: The tobacco industry specifically markets its products to LGBT people through direct and indirect advertising.
People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning/queer often face challenges that are not encountered by heterosexual individuals. They may also resort to social isolation, afraid to interact with peers for fear of ridicule, bullying, or worse.
In addition, the prevalence of discrimination within the homes of LGBTQ youth and young adults often leads to them being kicked out by their parent(s).
Other Illegal Drugs: In the past year, 0.9% of sexual minority adults report heroin use, compared to 0.3% of sexual majority adults. Detoxification, or detox, is the body’s process when it stops getting drugs or alcohol. Many drug rehab facilities do not cater to LGBTQ people. The services offered to those in inpatient treatment vary based on the facility, but most facilities provide around-the-clock medical care and nutrition.
Inpatient facilities that cater to those in the LGBTQ community offer therapists and healthcare professionals who are members of that community or have special training to help their LGBTQ patients with their unique needs.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient addiction treatment programs are available for people in the LGBTQ community who cannot live at a facility while they go through treatment.
Unlike the more structured inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment allows patients to come to the facility daily for treatment and then return to their everyday lives.
Other Addiction Treatment Services for LGBT Individuals
People in the LGBTQ community have access to more than inpatient and outpatient rehab programs.
Services such as medical detox, mental health treatment, and medication-assisted treatment provide additional support and guidance throughout the treatment process.
Medical Detox Services
The first step of addiction treatment is the detoxification process.
Moreover, people in the LGBTQ community face discrimination in a range of areas, such as housing , harassment regarding bathroom use, and health coverage for spouses. Intense paranoia—a common long-term effect of meth use—makes it very difficult to trust people, a crucial facet of treatment that is necessary for building relationships with counselors, mentors, and peers.
Distrust of clinicians and treatment programs is often heightened among LGBTQ+ patients, who often face even more stigma when entering treatment programs and have a distrust of institutions like law enforcement, which they may associate with addiction treatment.
Both of these processes can lead to increased substance use. (n.d.). There are two ways in which this happens: (1) their minority stress influences their daily living experiences, and (2) minority stress in the form of discrimination may be internalized. This stereotype is simply untrue and can lead to even more unwarranted discrimination.