The Effects of Honesty and Openness About Sexual Orientation on Gay and Bisexual Clients in Substance Abuse Programs

Abstract

A convenience sample of 183 gay, lesbian, and bisexual participants who were previously treated in substance abuse programs, completed surveys that included questions regarding their honesty and openness about their sexual orientation with counselors and clients in their programs, as well as in their personal lives. It was found that levels of honesty and openness in treatment positively correlated with reported program completion, satisfaction with treatment, feelings of therapeutic support, and feelings of connection to the program. However, there were no correlations between honesty and openness and reported abstinence from substances at the end of treatment and at the time of survey completion.

KEYWORDS:

• substance abuse treatment
• gay
• lesbian
• bisexual
• sexual orientation
• honesty and openness in treatment

The researcher thanks Dr. Barbara Warren, PsyD, Director of Organizational Development, Planning, and Research at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in Manhattan, for allowing this study to recruit participants outside of 12-step meetings in the lobby of that facility. He also thanks the following faculty members of New York University Silver School of Social Work for their support of this study: Dr. Mary Ann Jones, DSW, Associate Professor; Dr. Shulamith Lala Ashenberg Straussner, DSW, Professor; and Dr. Diane Grodney, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor.