Are Specialized LGBT Program Components Helpful for Gay and Bisexual Men in Substance Abuse Treatment?

Abstract

In the New York metropolitan area, a convenience sample of 187 men previously treated in substance abuse programs between 2000 and 2006 completed questionnaires regarding their reported outcomes, completion rates, and perceptions of treatment. The sample included 81 gay and bisexual (“gay/bisexual”) men in “traditional” programs (with no specialized groups for gay/bisexual clients), 51 gay/bisexual men in “LGBT specialized treatment” (programs with specialized groups for gay/bisexual clients), and 55 heterosexual men. In bivariate and multivariate analyses, heterosexual men and gay/bisexual men in LGBT specialized treatment had more favorable results than did gay/bisexual men in traditional programs, suggesting the effectiveness of LGBT program components.

RÉSUMÉ

Les composantes spécialisées des programmes LGBT sont-elles utiles aux hommes homosexuels et bisexuels pour traiter la toxicomanie?

Dans l’agglomération de New York, un échantillon de 187 hommes préalablement traités par des programmes de toxicomanie entre 2000 et 2006, a rempli des questionnaires concernant leurs résultats, taux d’achèvement et perceptions du traitement. L’échantillon comptait 81 hommes homosexuels/bisexuels suivant des programmes traditionnels (sans groupe spécialisé homosexuels/bisexuels), 51 hommes homosexuels/bisexuels sous traitement spécialisé LGBT (programmes avec des groupes spécialisés homosexuels/bisexuels) et 55 hommes hétérosexuels. Les analyses bivariables et multivariables révèlent que les hommes hétérosexuels et homosexuels/bisexuels sous traitement spécialisé LGBT avaient des résultats plus favorables que les hommes homosexuels/bisexuels suivant des programmes traditionnels, suggérant l’efficacité des composantes des programmes LGBT.

RESUMEN

¿Los componentes del Programa Especializado LGBT son útiles para los hombres homosexuales y bisexuales en el tratamiento contra el abuso de sustancias?

En el área metropolitana de Nueva York, 187 hombres tratados en programas de abuso de sustancias entre 2000 y 2006 respondieron a cuestionarios sobre sus resultados, índices de finalización y percepciones del tratamiento. La muestra incluyó a 81 homosexuales/bisexuales en programas “tradicionales” (sin grupos especializados para homosexuales/bisexuales), 51 homosexuales/bisexuales en “tratamiento especializado LGBT” (programas con grupos especializados para homosexuales/bisexuales) y 55 heterosexuales. En análisis bivariados y multivariados, los heterosexuales y los homosexuales/bisexuales en tratamiento especializado LGBT tuvieron más resultados favorables que los homosexuales/bisexuales en programas tradicionales, lo que sugiere que los componentes de los programas LGBT son efectivos.

Keywords :

• substance abuse treatment
• drug treatment
• alcohol treatment
• gay
• bisexual

THE AUTHOR

Evan Senreich, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Lehman College, City University of New York. He received his doctorate from New York University Silver School of Social Work where he taught for 10 years. His areas of interest have included: substance abuse treatment for the LGBT population, educating social work students to work with clients who misuse drugs and alcohol, the attitudes of West African immigrants in the New York area toward substance use, integrating the holistic and dialogic aspects of Gestalt Therapy into social work practice, and developing an inclusive model of spirituality applicable to all clients in social work settings. Dr. Senreich was a social worker in numerous mental health and substance abuse settings in New York City for over two decades.