Drugs in the LGBTQ+ Community

Even with growing acceptance in the United States, almost every member of the LGBTQ+ community will face some sort of homophobia. It could come from friends, family,
or even a stranger. Because of this, some community members decide to stay “in the closet”, not revealing their true colors. This sense of not being yourself can lead to
feelings of anxiety and depression, leading some to drugs to try and lessen the pain.
By: Abigail Beulke
Why is this important?
Some of these drugs include:
According to a study in 2015 by the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3
those in the LGBTQ community are more likely to
have consumed drugs. They are also at greater risk for Marijuana
substance abuse and mental health issues compared to
the population that identifies as heterosexual. Sexual Misused Prescriptions
minorities were reported as over twice as likely to have
consumed any illicit drug in a year period. [1] Cocaine
Hallucinogens
See Figure 1 and 2
Inhalants
Methamphetamine
What impact does this have on Heroin
society? Cigarettes / E-Cigarettes
Substance Use Disorders, or SDUs, are defined as
“Someone over 18 having (within the past year) a Alcohol
diagnosable mental, behavior, or emotional disorder
that causes serious functional impairment that Fentanyl / Carfentanyl
substantially interferes with or limits one or more
major life activities.” [2] LBGTQ members are more
often seen with SDUs, and their SDUs are more severe.
Additionally, some SDU treatments are less Sources
effective or completely ineffective for sexual LGBTQ members are over Over 50 percent of LGBTQ Over 15 percent of LGBTQ
[1] Medly, Grace, et al. “Sexual Orientation and Estimates of Adult Substance Use and Mental
Health: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” Sexual Orientation
minorities. Those who try and reach out for help that and Estimates of Adult Substance Use and Mental Health: Results from the 2015 National

twice as likely to have members aged 26 or older members have been reported
Survey on Drug Use and Health, Oct. 2016, www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDU-
is desperately needed will often be shunned. Even SexualOrientation-2015/NSDUH-SexualOrientation-2015/NSDUH-SexualOrientation-2015.
htm.
in what is supposed to be a place of acceptance and
safety, such as rehab centers and even Alcoholics consumed any illicit drug in have consumed any illicit with a Substance Use [2] “Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.” SAMHSA, 13 Apr. 2022, https://www.
samhsa.gov/find-help/disorders.
Anonymous, bigotry and homophobia can still occur.
[3] a year peroid. drug in a year peroid. Disorder in the past year. [3] Ackermann, Kristina. “Why Substance Abuse Is Higher within the LGBTQ
Community.” Edited by Michael Kaliszewski, American Addiction Centers, 26 Oct. 2021,
americanaddictioncenters.org/lgbtqiapk-addiction/why-substance-abuse-is-higher-within-the-
lgbtq-community.
See Figure 3