Substance Use Disorder and LGBTQ

Analysis Paper - LGBTQ

Multiple studies have examined the use of illicit drugs and alcohol among the LGBTQ. Most of the studies compared the use of drugs among LGBTQ individuals and heterosexual individuals. According to some studies’ findings, it is claimed that LGBTQ individuals are more likely to consume illicit drugs and alcohol (Klein & Ross, 2014). Equally, LGBTQ individuals are prompt to develop various health challenges due to substance use. However, amongst the findings, none seem to have determined the predisposing factors that trigger more LGBTQ to alcohol and illicit drug abuse than heterosexual individuals (Klein & Ross, 2014). Such results, therefore, if not adequately evaluated, can be biased.

On the other hand, some studies also argue that the differences in alcohol and illicit drug intake between heterosexual individuals and LGBTQ individuals emerge during adolescence and persist until adulthood (Klein & Ross, 2014). According to those studies, LGBTQ adolescents that are school-based were found to use more drugs and alcohol than heterosexual adolescents, and they continuously consumed more drugs and alcohol as they aged (Klein & Ross, 2014).

However much these findings resound genuine and well searched, the first question one should ask is the criteria used by the researchers to determine who LBGTQ individuals are amongst the population (Klein & Ross, 2014). In any event, where the selection of samples is not accurate, the results cannot be a true representation of the realities (Klein & Ross, 2014). The process is as good as a result.

Besides, considering the gender perspective, some research studies argue that lesbian and bisexual women are more likely to drink frequently than heterosexual women. As a result, lesbian and bisexual women are more likely to experience more adverse effects from drinking. Also, according to the studies, gay men are prone to consuming marijuana and other illicit drugs and, as a result, develop an addiction to illegal drugs very fast (Klein & Ross, 2014).

In a nutshell, sexual minority men are prone to using illicit drugs. They undergo serious challenges associated with the use of drugs, while sexual minority women, on the other hand, are more likely to develop challenges related to the consumption of alcohol (Klein & Ross, 2014).

If these findings were to be considered trustworthy as they are, then probable one would consider environmental factors and mode of life among the gender as one of the contributors to the choice of the drug each gender relies upon. For instance, women probably take alcohol to influence or manage stressful situations (Klein & Ross, 2014). Otherwise, men prefer marijuana to help them cope with adverse weather conditions. Therefore, there is a need for a proper clinical understanding of the LBGTQ patients.

In contrast to other studies, Hardesty and colleagues (2012) claim no significant variation in pretreatment alcohol and drug use between heterosexuals and the LBGTQs. According to their research, LBGTQs indicated higher post-treatment utilization of family counseling, medical, and substance abuse counseling services (Klein & Ross, 2014).

However, another study also established that LBGT patients recorded more pretreatment drug usage than heterosexual patients; hence, they relied on methamphetamine and Cocaine (Klein & Ross, 2014). Therefore, LBGT individuals may undergo different life experiences and challenges, influencing their particular drug usage. That could explain why some research findings associate LGBTs with frequent pretreatment usage of illicit drugs compared to heterosexuals. At the same time, other studies recorded no significant difference between heterosexuals and LGBTs.

There is varying information regarding how sexual minority patients attend treatment differ from heterosexual patients in severity of substance use (Klein & Ross, 2014). The mixed-up could be due to differences in features and measurements of the study samples. Subsequently, some studies have evaluated health severity and substance use among a sexual minority needing drug and alcohol dependence treatment (Klein & Ross, 2014).

Through such studies, the special needs and unique challenges the LBGTQ patients face can be understood better to enhance their care (Klein & Ross, 2014). Undoubtedly, it is only through such understandings that an approach to inform their treatment can be developed to suit them, particularly improving mental health and substance use outcomes.

For instance, data from a recent analysis indicates that more than 90 percent of sexual minority patients exhibited a co-occurring Axis I mental health disorder, a rate proportionately higher than those patients who are heterosexual (Klein & Ross, 2014). Moreover, the studies also find that LBGTQ patients are most likely to have anxiety and depressive disorder. Such findings raise substantial questions about LBGTQ individuals (Klein & Ross, 2014).

For instance, what makes LBGTQ individuals vulnerable to anxiety and depressive disorders and consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol more than heterosexual individuals? Has it to do with their mental wellbeing? Could it be that society discriminates against LBGTQ, resulting in stigmatization and pressure? One has to question why a group of people with different sexual orientations undergo adverse effects than the rest.

Subsequently, studies have targeted treating anxiety disorder specifically because its symptoms can trigger drug use (Klein & Ross, 2014). For example, according to Kushner and colleagues’ (2012) study, patients who were alcohol dependent and received cognitive-behavioral therapy mainly focused on decoupling associations between the urge to drink alcohol and anxiety symptoms experienced better alcohol use outcomes (Klein & Ross, 2014).

This was after treatment compared to patients who were given relaxation therapy for anxiety (Klein & Ross, 2014). Research findings also show that when addiction treatment for patients with co-occurring depressive disorders concentrates on the depressive disorder, such patients are more likely to abstain from drinking.

Also, the higher rate of co-occurring mental health disorders witnessed amongst the LGBTQ could be due to their multiple stressors, bearing the fact that they are a minority group. Things like ostracism and shame are usually experienced by the LGBTQ individuals whenever they disclose their sexuality, as well as homophobia and heterosexism, which they mostly experience, could contribute to a mental disturbance that ultimately results in alcohol and illicit drug abuse (Klein & Ross, 2014).

The finding that there is no considerable difference in co-occurring diagnoses between heterosexual men and GBTQ men but not between heterosexual women and LBTQ women hints that the situations could be due to minor stress (Klein & Ross, 2014). For example, since minority stress of being a woman is the dominant stressor for both the heterosexual women and the LBTQ women, it equally applies to them, hence, the lack of difference between the heterosexual women and LBTQ women (Klein & Ross, 2014). This explanation sounds convincing and acceptable. Moreover, it explains why sexual minority men undergo a lot of drug abuse and mental disturbance compared to their women counterparts.

On the other hand, being a sexual minority is the dominant stressor for GBTQ men, ultimately resulting in mental health challenges (Klein & Ross, 2014). According to some research findings, culture allows women greater permission than men to get involved in non-heterosexual sexual expression.

From the findings of Herek (2009), 38 percent of gay men were found to have been discriminated against, harassed, and criminally victimized due to their sexual orientation, while only 12 percent of lesbians underwent the same experience. Moreover, sexual minority men seem at higher risk of internalized homophobia (Klein & Ross, 2014). Nonetheless, it is sensible that those men who have internalized negative attitudes or who, during their upbringing, heavily survived homophobic may show symptoms that simulate clinical depression, more so within the setting of chemical use disorders.