Transcript Slide 1

Engaging with Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual &
Transgender Service Users
Monty Moncrieff
Antidote
Research Sources
 Drug misuse amongst people from the
lesbian, gay and bisexual community
www.drugs.gov.uk (2003)
 Wasted Opportunities – Problematic Drug &
Alcohol Use Amongst Gay & Bisexual Men
www.sigmaresearch.org.uk (2009)
 Statistics on Alcohol - England 2008 - NHS
Information Centre www.ic.nhs.uk
The LGBT Alcohol Strategy
The LGBT Alcohol Strategy
 Not explicit in national strategy (alcohol or
drugs)
 Sexual orientation not compulsorily
monitored
 Norm of binary gender identity (only male or
female options)
 Policy does not identify patterns of use or
social contexts reflective of LGBT lifestyles
 Few targeted services (and no residential)
The extent of alcohol use in
the LGBT community
 92% drink alcohol (72% wider community)
 67% more than weekly (46% wider
community)
 One-third state concern over use/frequency
of use
 Studies showing consistently higher use by
LGBT people
 Consistently higher levels of problematic use
Reasons for problematic use
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Homophobia
Internalised homophobia & self-identity
Mitigating social unease
Alleviating loneliness & unhappiness
Enabling sexual encounters
Gay norms of alcohol use
Access to services
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Inequality of access
Fears of homophobia
Confidentiality
Pathologised, stigmatised, negatively judged
Lack of understanding of LGBT issues
Invisibility
Safety
Making progress
 GLADA Strategic Priority 4.1c – Promoting
equality of access to alcohol treatment for all
Londoners
 Explore the need for cross-borough, -sector
and pan-London commissioning for certain
population groups
 Make strategic priority for Joint Action Group
 Lobby for national strategic priority
Local change
 Actively tackle homophobia – policy,
practice, actions
 Raise awareness of LGBT issues and
lifestyles
 Recognition and acceptance of differing
LGBT needs
 Increased visibility – service users, staff,
resources, interventions
 Specialist LGBT service provision – own or
in partnerships
Contact Details
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Antidote 020 7437 4669
Toni Hogg, David Stuart
[email protected]
[email protected]