Delivering LGBT-sensitive substance use treatment to sexual minority women

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies have consistently found elevated rates of alcohol and other substance use among sexual minority women (SMW), and despite calls for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)-specific” services and culturally tailored interventions, few such services exist. This study involved qualitative interviews with directors from substance use treatment programs (N = 10) about how they addressed the needs of SMW. Strategies implemented primarily focused on creating a safe and welcoming environment for sexual minority clients. Findings highlight challenges involved in meeting the treatment needs of SMW and provide guidance to researchers and service providers on how to improve the quality of care for them.

Keywords:

• Lesbian
• sexual minority women
• substance use treatment cultural sensitivity

Acknowledgments

Preliminary findings from this study were presented during the SAMHSA webinar series Relationships Matter! and in poster format during the 2017 Addiction Health Services Research Conference held in Madison, WI. In addition to their funders, the authors would like to thank study participants for sharing their experiences and insights and to acknowledge Sarah Zemore, PhD for her mentoring of and support for this work.

Additional information

Funding

Work on this manuscript was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA P50AA005595]. The funding agency had no role in study design; in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIAAA or the National Institutes of Health.