Pride Month Marks the Need For Understanding LGBTQ+ Addiction Care

Drug and alcohol addiction and mental illness do not discriminate. There is no one picture of what someone who struggles with substances or mental health “looks like.” These conditions can affect anyone no matter their gender, age, race, beliefs, employment, socioeconomic status, and more.

At the same time, certain sections of the population are more likely to develop mental health or substance problems than others. Individuals in the LGBTQ+ community are one of these groups. Statistics and research show that LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to abuse substances or develop mental illness than their allies.

Substance abuse rates are higher across the board for sexual minority groups compared to the general population. 9.6% of LGBTQ+ adults reported past-year opioid use, much higher than the past-year opioid use among 3.8% of all U.S. adults. 12.4% of adults in the LGBTQ+ community have an alcohol use disorder compared to 10.1% of all adults.

LGBTQ+ individuals also report higher rates of marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine use. Cocaine use among these individuals has been on the rise since 2016, an alarming trend to note. Methamphetamine use has risen dramatically over the last few years, too, with rates more than doubling compared to 2017.

Why are LGBTQ+ individuals more likely to use substances and experience mental health struggles? Even though tolerance and acceptance are on the rise, there are still plenty of areas where people are less accepting. Pride Month is a helpful step but there is more ground to cover. What are some of the things that lead to higher rates of substance abuse for LGBTQ+ people?

Although it’s great to have a place to feel safe, the fact that these places are often bars means that people are drinking. The thought of going to a bar sober is laughable to many so the people feel the need to drink while there. When a bar is one of the few places some LGBTQ+ people feel safe, the higher rates of drinking and drug use aren’t as surprising.

People can build a chosen family but as a study on LGBTQ+ youth and family acceptance explains, “peer and other community support cannot replace the desired parental reaction.” When that biological need for love and support from the family is not met, it increases the likelihood of substance abuse and other detrimental mental health conditions.

People are far more likely to achieve and maintain recovery when they have access to comprehensive addiction treatment services. But in 2019, only 13.6% of the 2.6 million LGBTQ+ adults who needed treatment services for a substance use disorder received them. That means 2.2 million individuals were left to manage their substance use or try to stop using drugs and alcohol on their own.

LBGTQ+ individuals are not only at a greater risk of developing a substance use disorder. They’re also less likely to receive the treatment services they need. This contradiction is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Removing barriers to treatment for LGBTQ+ individuals is a life-saving effort. How can treatment facilities go about eliminating roadblocks between their vital services and the LGBTQ+ community?