This Pride Month, Elevate Recovery Centers wants to call attention to what it’s like for the LGBTQ+ community in recovery. Drug usage rates for the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and more identities) community are higher than other communities due to numerous factors. The challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces on a daily basis can be extremely stressful, causing them to self soothe through substances. These dilemmas make the LGBTQ+ community at higher risk for substance use disorder than those who are heterosexual.
The LGBTQ+ Community and Addiction
While the LGBTQ+ community makes up approximately 10% of the general population, 20-30% of the LGBTQ+ community faces substance use disorders. Substance use disorder can be caused or amplified by traumatic experiences. The LGBTQ+ community often face more traumatic experiences earlier on in life, and more frequently, than people who are heterosexual.
Self soothing with drugs and alcohol is common for everyone who lives with any type of addiction. Just like anyone else, members of the LGBTQ+ community may use substances to ease the pain of their depression, anxiety, fear, or other mental health disorders. While drugs of choice are often dependent on the person, it’s common to see the following drugs being used within the LGBTQ+ community: marijuana, tobacco, alcohol, amphetamines, and heroin (or other opioids).
Here are some statistics about the LGBTQ+ community according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse and Recovery Research Institute:
- People in the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to have a co-occurring psychiatric disorder with substance use disorder. Anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and more are all extremely common within the LGBTQ+ community.
- Transgender youth have higher levels of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, and self-harm than non-transgender youth.
- LGBTQ+ people are more likely to start drinking at an earlier age than heterosexual people.
- Gay men are three times more likely to have an eating disorder than straight men.
- Lesbian and bisexual women are twice as likely to experience binge eating.
Challenges for the LGBTQ+ Community that lead to Addiction
It’s important to recognize the many disparities that the LGBTQ+ community faces on a regular basis due to their sexual identity in order to comprehend what may lead them to addiction. We understand that sexual identity is only one aspect of a person; members of the LGBTQ+ community may also intersect other minority identities that can layer the challenges they face due to their sexual identity. Furthermore, there are subgroups within the LGBTQ+ community that have unique experiences that may not apply to other subgroups. Factors that may lead to addiction specific to the LGBTQ+ community include:
Homophobia & Heteronormativity: Homophobia is known as the psychological, social, and political oppression of the LGBTQ+ community. Heteronormativity is the worldview that being heterosexual is the preferred social norm. Naturally, for those who don’t identify as straight, or heteronormative, it can be extremely stressful navigating a world that does not account for their existence. Members of the LGBTQ+ community experience homophobia in every sector of their life from housing and employment to marriage and other civil rights. Discrimination in these areas impact depression, anxiety, self-esteem and other mental health issues that may lead to addiction.
Familial Rejection: While this can certainly be associated with homophobia, familial rejection can be a massive turning point for all LGBTQ+ youth. Facing such extreme levels of rejection at a young age places LGBTQ+ youth at higher risk for substance use disorder.
Trauma: Trauma affects members of the LGBTQ+ community at disproportionate rates. Hate violence, domestic violence, and sexual assault are the most common forms of trauma members of the LGBTQ+ community face according to the American Psychological Association. As previously mentioned, trauma contributes and habitually fuels addiction.
Treatment Barriers for the LGBTQ+ Community
Stigmas surrounding addiction are amplified for those with multiple minority identities. Members of the LGBTQ+ community may experience discrimination, insensitivity, and homophobia when trying to obtain treatment for their addiction. Having bad experiences with some treatment facilities may discourage them from seeking treatment at other facilities. Furthermore, the challenges that cause their addiction trickles down to prevent them from obtaining treatment.
- Lack of familial support could morph into financial insecurity while checking the cost of services/treatment.
- Homophobia and heteronormative stigmas could dissuade LGBTQ+ people from sharing personal details about their life, therefore limiting the effectiveness of their treatment.
- Being required to sleep in quarters or dress based on sex instead of the gender they identify as.
Finding a facility that specializes in LGBTQ+ addiction care is the key to an inclusive recovery. It’s important to be mindful of biases that affect the way recovery centers cater to their clients. These conversations are imperative to continually better the care for the entire addiction and recovery community.
If you or someone you know is looking for a safe space to elevate your recovery journey, contact us.