Alcohol and the LGBT Community

Alcohol and the LGBT Community Alcoholism and alcohol abuse rates are much higher in the LGBT community than in the population at large, more than twice as high. Gay and lesbian youth get started drinking earlier and with a culture generally centered in bars, it's easy for them to just keep drinking. 3.4% of American adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Who's Abusing? Percent of Population with Substance Use Disorders (alcohol, drugs or both) 20-30% of LGBT people 9% of general population In a survey of 350 transgender people, 25% said alcohol was a problem for them, and of those, 60% were still drinking. Starting Young LGBT youth are 1.6 times more likely to try alcohol before age 13. Risks for LGBT Teens Sense of self as worthless Lack of access to role models or bad Lack of opportunities to Lack of connectedness to socialize with other supportive adults and peers gays/lesbians except bars Lack of alternative ways to Risk of contracting HIV view "differentness" LBGT Adults 2x 5x as likely to binge drink. as likely to ride with a drunk driver. Gay Men Drinking Habits 45.1% once a week or less 28.4% 2-3 times per week 14.6% 4 times per week 1 2% never Lesbian Drinking Habits once a week or less 20.5% 2-3 times per week 4 times per week 6% never What Contributes to LGBT Alcohol Abuse? Homophobia Fear of STDS/AlIDS Stigma Bar culture Discrimination Barriers to safe treatment Bar Culture One factor that contributes to LGBT alcohol abuse: The bar. For many people, coming out means time spent in clubs and bars, which traditionally have been viewed as safe places for LGBT people. 49% 31% of gay men of lesbians Go to bars/clubs weekly or monthly Sources http://www.gallup.com/poll/158066/special-report-adults-identify-lgbt.aspx http://www.samhsa.gov/data/spotlight/Spotdight004GayLesbians.pdf http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2kl OResults/Web/PDFW/2kIOResults.pdf http://www.vdh.virginiagovlepidemiology/DiseasePrevention/documents/pdf/THISFINALREPORTVOII.pdf http://www.nalgap.org/PDF/Resources/Substance_Abuse.pdf http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lgbthealth/AlcoholDrugs/ http://www.nalgap.org/PDF/Resources/LGBT.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/substance-abuse.htm http://pride-institute.com/about/why-lgbt-treatment/ http://www.greenbook.org/marketing-research.cfm/gay-lesbian-consumer-index-study M LAKEVIEW HEALTH SYSTEMS www.lakeviewhealth.com