Lesbians’ Drinking Patterns: Beyond the Data^#

Abstract

Early studies report very high rates of “alcohol abuse” and alcoholism among lesbians. However, serious methodological problems, including nonrepresentative samples that were often recruited in lesbian or gay lesbian bars, limit the validity of findings from these studies. In this article, I briefly review the literature on lesbians’ use of alcohol and present findings from a recent study conducted in Chicago (USA). This study recruited a race- and age-diverse sample of lesbians and a demographically matched group of heterosexual women. Rates of “heavy” alcohol use and alcohol-use-related problems among lesbians were much lower in this study than in early studies. However, lesbians were more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to be in recovery and to have been in treatment for alcohol-use-related problems. Further, high rates of childhood sexual abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation reported by lesbians suggest that at least some groups may be at heightened risk for “heavy” drinking and drinking-related problems. Nevertheless, results of this and other studies suggest that reports of heavy drinking and drinking-related problems among lesbians may have been inflated in earlier studies, or that heavy drinking and drinking-related problems may have declined among lesbians.

• Lesbian
• Homosexuality
• Sexual orientation
• Alcohol use
• Substance use
• Mental health risks.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tonda L. Hughes

Tonda L. Hughes, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N. (USA), is associate professor in the Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Administrative Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She also is director of Research for the UIC National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. Dr. Hughes teaches interdisciplinary graduate courses on women's health at UIC. Her primary expertise and research interests focus on lesbians’ use of alcohol. She currently has funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to study “risk” and “protective” factors for “heavy” drinking and drinking-related problems among lesbians. A member of the editorial board of Substance Use and Misuse, she also is a faculty member of MEMSIDU in Italy.