Pride Month: LGBTQ+ Mental Health and Substance Abuse Struggles
LGBTQ+ inequalities in healthcare exist and need to be addressed
As we celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends and family this Pride month it is also important to recognize the troubles they continue to face in today’s climate. The mental health struggles of our LGBTQ+ peers are important and can contribute to frequent substance abuse. This is an issue born out of the existing discrimination and treatment that LGBTQ+ individuals face daily. To truly support the LGBTQ+ community and contribute to meaningful changes that aid them, we must understand the root causes of substance abuse among LGBTQ+ individuals and the extent to which they are affected by them.
Substance Abuse Statistics
The statistics on substance abuse in the LGBTQ+ community are quite shocking and clear. Drug use and excessive alcohol consumption are frequent within the community, specifically as a coping mechanism for many LGBTQ+ individuals’ personal struggles.
Above are some statistics from a 2016 survey that clearly contrast substance abuse among sexual minorities (LGBTQ+) in comparison to sexual majorities (heterosexual/gender binary individuals).
To start, LGBTQ+ alcohol use is much greater than that of the general population. 5-10% of the general population drink dangerous amounts of alcohol, in comparison to 25% of the LGBT population that drink dangerous amounts of alcohol. In youth, a study by the Trevor Project found that rates of past 30-day alcohol use were 25% higher in lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth than straight youth.
18.2% of adults overall use marijuana in the general population, compared to 37.6% of LGBTQ+ adults. This means that LGBTQ+ adults are around twice as likely to be using marijuana than the general population, whether it be recreationally, medically, or even in combination with other drugs. In lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, a study by the Trevor Project found that rates of marijuana use in the past 30 days were 62% higher than rates of marijuana use in straight youth.
Lastly, when it comes to hard drugs, lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth reported hard drug use rates that were 2-3 times higher than hard drug use rates in straight youth - hard drugs being cocaine, meth, heroin, ecstasy, etc. In adults, misuse of past year opioids (prescribed the year before for a medical issue but still being used after the issue was resolved) is 9% in LGBTQ+ individuals in comparison to 3.8% in the overall population.
Understanding there is a drug abuse problem is just a part of the entire issue. Now we must take the time to understand what factors contribute to poor mental health and drug use and what may hinder treatment.
Discrimination as a Contributing Factor
LGBTQ+ individuals face discrimination constantly in their lives simply for living life their way without conforming to gender norms and heterosexual behavior. Discrimination can come from family, friends, co-workers and bosses, and even random people who think they have a right to be in someone else’s business. This discrimination can manifest in the form of homophobia, hate crimes, workplace harassment, and bullying.
As of 2019, global acceptance of homosexual attraction remained divided. Most developing countries had less than a 50% acceptance rate of homosexuality, and even a developed country like the United States had only a 72% acceptance rate of homosexuality. Though 72% is a majority, this still means that around 1 in 4 people that a lesbian, gay, or bisexual person comes in contact with will be homophobic.
In schools, lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are twice as likely to be bullied, excluded, and assaulted. In workplaces, a shocking 43% of LGBTQ+ individuals have reported facing workplace discrimination according to The Center for American Progress.
Personal Struggles as a Contributing Factor
For those with disapproving families and friends, the stress of having to keep one’s identity a secret or revealing it only to disowned can induce drug use as a coping mechanism. Even for those living in an approving community, the pressure behind “coming out” that heterosexual/gender binary individuals do not have to face but LGBTQ+ individuals do can cause anxiety. At the same time if “coming out” is put off, this can create a feeling of loneliness and even depression for LGBTQ+ individuals who are not living their lives authentically.
Internalized homophobia can also contribute to negative thoughts and substance abuse. Societal expectations and rejection of LGBTQ+ individuals can create feelings of self disapproval in LGBTQ+ individuals. This self disapproval may then increase to the point where the individual may develop anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders and begin to self-medicate to try to cope.
This treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals can then cause feelings of sadness, loneliness, and anxiety which can all contribute to the use of drugs as a coping mechanism. From a health perspective, LGBTQ individuals are prone to mood disorders, eating disorders, psychiatric disorders, stress, anxiety, and STDs (through unhealthy sexual behavior). This can then interfere with work and behavior, leading to substance abuse for coping and even limit one’s desire to receive substance abuse treatment. LGBTQ+ youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide than gender binary/heterosexual youth. The high rates of drug usage contribute to higher suicidal tendencies since individuals with drug use disorders are 7 times more likely to die by suicide than those without.
Ways to address the discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community include supporting family acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals and speaking out and educating family members who choose to demonstrate anti-LGBTQ+ behavior. Additionally, schools can truly become safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth if they enforce strict zero-tolerance policies for bullying, allow for LGBTQ+ education to be included in school curriculums (ex. Sex ed), and support the creation of student-led LGBTQ+ alliance clubs. Similarly, workplaces can enforce anti-discrimination training and allow for the creation of LGBTQ+ alliance groups to promote a healthy work culture for LGBTQ+ individuals. Community activities that bring LGBTQ+ individuals together such as Pride parades, gathering places, and LGBTQ+ youth organizations can also foster a strong sense of community and support that can improve LGBTQ+ morale and prevent dangerous behaviors.
The Need for Improved LGBTQ+ Treatment options
Another obstacle for LGBTQ+ individuals who are struggling with poor mental health and substance abuse is the difficulty of obtaining quality therapy and treatment. Homophobic and transphobic treatment in traditional group and individual substance abuse treatment facilities often severely affects the rehabilitation process.
“Researchers identified pre-existing stigma, directed toward transgender people because of their perceived refusal to conform to a binary gender identity as the attitude behind the barrier to treatment” - from information in the journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy analyzed by AAC
This anti-LGBTQ+ treatment may be in the form of discrimination or even ignorance and microaggressions against LGBTQ+ individuals seeking mental health treatment. Despite existing laws, loopholes often allow LGBTQ+ individuals to be excluded from insurance coverage and quality medical care. Some states have even begun passing laws that allow doctors to refuse treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals if it goes against their religious beliefs, a clear violation of the Hippocratic Oath and equal rights. If LGBTQ+ individuals find that they are not able to be treated for their mental health issues at medical facilities, they may begin to self-medicate with drugs thereby reinforcing the cycle of increased drug abuse.
Another issue is that traditional healthcare systems and professionals do not have the appropriate training to address LGBTQ+ specific mental health and substance abuse issues. Only 7.4% of substance abuse treatment programs offer specialized services for LGBTQ+ patients. Programs can not only incorporate these kinds of services but also simply make small adjustments that support LGBTQ+ issues. For example, many LGBTQ+ individuals may struggle with familial acceptance of their identities. Yet, treatment facilities continue to ask for biological families to be listed as the patient’s support system and emergency contacts. Giving the option for LGBTQ+ individuals to list their “family of choice” such as their close friends who are accepting of their identity as their support system is just one of the many changes that traditional healthcare systems can implement to support LGBTQ+ patients.
We must continue to support our LGBTQ+ peers in the fight for their rights, the pursuit of quality treatment for mental health care, and substance abuse prevention. For those struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorders, please call the SAMHSA hotline at 1-800-662-4357 for support. For those feeling suicidal calling the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 is a great option, and the Trevor Lifeline hotline 1-866-488-7386 can be contacted for more LGBTQ+ specific support in crises. In the case of an emergency please call 911.
This Pride Month let’s remember that love is love and people should be able to choose to be the true version of themselves without facing hate and discrimination. The LGBTQ+ community is stronger than ever and things will get better.
This is an informative post. They are important part of life itself. Thank you sharing.
This is a very good post. We should gradually consider the lives of the LGBTQ+ community as they are too human beings. They need the same support as everyone. Thank you for writing this out :)
Fiona | https://bbeyondbeneath.blogspot.com/