Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
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People who identify as LGBTQ+ often face social stigma, discrimination, and other unfair treatment not experienced by their heterosexual counterparts.
They also face a higher risk of harassment, violence, and hate crimes. As a result, the LGBTQ+ community is significantly impacted by alcoholism and substance abuse.
Research shows up to 25% of the LGBTQ+ community has a moderate alcohol dependency. In comparison, 5% to 10% of the general population has moderate alcohol dependency.
LGBTQIA+ is a community of sexual or gender minorities. Each letter is an abbreviation for terms used to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
The community includes people who identify as:
This is a partial list. The words used to describe these identities and communities are constantly developing and expanding. People may identify as something that is not included in our list. Other all-encompassing terms include “Queer Community” and “Rainbow Community.”
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LGBTQ+ people are four times as likely as heterosexual adults to misuse substances. The tendency towards misusing substances is mainly because they face bigotry and discrimination, especially against the older generation of LGBTQ+ members.
Discrimination can lead to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Those affected may experience distress, fear, and feelings of low self-esteem.
Many people turn to binge drinking and illicit drugs to self-medicate. Self-medication often makes mental health illnesses worse and leads to substance use disorders.
Many people in the LGBTQ+ community do not have the same support systems as their heterosexual counterparts. Many queer people also lose support from their families and loved ones when they come out.
As such, homelessness is a big problem among young members of the LGBTQ+ community. They often run away or are shunned by their families and loved ones.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community also tend to be prevented from attending faith-based support systems. They may have to hide their sexual orientation to participate in such programs.
Awareness of the problems the LGBTQ+ community face is growing. American addiction centers have various LGBTQ-specific treatments and resources now available to meet their unique needs.
If you, a friend, or a loved one is experiencing alcoholism, you are not alone. Achieving sobriety is a challenging journey that may require professional help and guidance from addiction treatment experts.
Here are several types of LGBTQ-friendly treatment programs:
LGBTQ+ treatment centers usually provide programs categorized by sexual orientation or gender identity, including:
Issues like homophobia, transphobia, and familial rejection can trigger alcohol cravings. Because these rehab centers understand the specific stressors that affect the community, they provide additional support that addresses these particular issues.
Dual-diagnosis therapy addresses substance abuse and other mental health conditions or co-occurring disorders. Many LGBTQ+ alcohol and drug treatment programs address other conditions besides addiction.
Patients may also be addicted to more than one substance. They may have additional health issues like HIV/AIDS or hepatitis. Most specialty treatment centers offer dual diagnosis treatment.
Many LGBTQ-friendly rehab centers offer extra counseling for partners and families of the queer community. Traditional family therapy and marriage counseling often aren’t suitable. During therapy, counselors consider a person’s sexual orientation and how it may affect their relationships.
LGBTQ+ peer support groups consist of other people going through similar experiences and struggles.
You’ll be able to form a community of understanding and empathetic people through these support groups. They often offer a deeper understanding of the community’s struggles and issues.
They’ll connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor
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LGBTQ-friendly alcohol and drug centers address the unique needs and concerns of the community. Treatment facilities provide safe, comfortable, and non-judgmental environments. They also offer more targeted treatments.
During treatment, the standard concerns of addiction and substance abuse are addressed. Any unique issues that LGBTQ+ members face are also treated.
Individualized addiction treatment is more effective than a one-size-fits-all approach. This is especially true for LGBTQ+ members who struggle with extra challenges during treatment.
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LGBTQ+ community members can complete alcohol and substance abuse treatment at conventional rehab centers.
However, advantages to receiving treatment designed to meet the specific needs of LGBTQ+ people include:
LGBTQ-friendly centers offer services that can help address identity issues often linked to a patient’s substance abuse. Some people may also need to explore their sexual identity to understand their alcohol or drug use.
The LGBTQ+ community has a greater risk of developing substance use disorders due to the stress they face from bigotry and discrimination.
To help address their issues, many rehab facilities offer treatment options that cater to LGBTQ+ people. These programs address specific problems rooted in alcohol addiction or substance misuse.
American addiction centers also offer various benefits to help people achieve and maintain sobriety. These include safe spaces, understanding staff, and specific therapies catered to a person’s needs.
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