Meeting the substance abuse treatment needs of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women: implications from research to practice

Abstract

Research on the incidence, etiology and substance abuse treatment needs of lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) women is limited. Most research indicates higher levels of alcohol and drug abuse among these populations compared to their heterosexual counterparts, with recent research indicating that substance abuse is a particular concern for transgender individuals and an increasing problem among younger LBT individuals. Risk factors and reasons for substance abuse among sexual minority women are similar to those of heterosexual women, yet are substantially complicated by issues of family rejection and lack of social support, stigma and minority stress, as well as abuse and harassment. Historically, substance abuse prevention, early intervention, and clinical treatment programs were designed to meet the needs of the sexual majority population with relatively few programs designed to incorporate the specific needs of sexual minorities. This article reviews findings from previous studies and utilizes new data collected from community-based and residential substance abuse treatment programs to (1) examine issues relevant to LBT women and substance use, and (2) make recommendations for tailoring substance abuse treatment programs to meet the needs of these populations.

Keywords:

• lesbian
• bisexual
• transgender
• substance abuse
• family rejection
• social support
• stigma
• minority stress
• abuse
• harassment

Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge the assistance of the numerous project participants as well as the research and clinical staff associated with each of the funded projects for their insights, time and dedication to the field of substance abuse treatment and related health issues.

Support for this research came from the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (Grant No 1R01 DA 10651) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Grant Nos 1 H79 TI 15863, 1 H79 TI 021367, 1 H79 TI 018730, and 1 H79 TI 14452). The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding entities.

Disclosure

The author declares no conflicts of interest in this work.