Transcript LGBs & Alcohol/Drug Misuse

LGBs & Alcohol/Drug Misuse
Jan Bridget
Lesbian Information Service
Gay and Lesbian Youth in
Calderdale
U.S.A. All Ages (1)
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Early research higher levels of alcohol/drug use and
abuse among the LGB population than het. population.
Early research reliant on contacting LGB people via gay
bars which could account for high levels of use.
Difficult to make comparisons because of problems
with definitions of use and abuse, sexual orientation.
Appears to be greater abuse of alcohol among lesbians
than het. women; gay men seem to have similar levels
of consumption as het. men.
Some studies suggest little difference between lesbians
and heterosexual women.
USA: All Ages (2)
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Many others found higher levels of use and
abuse among lesbian and bisexual women.
Rate of drinking among lesbians not decline
with age like the general population.
Even comparing lesbians and het. women who
abused alcohol, lesbians had more difficulties
relating to consumption and greater alcoholrelated morbidity..
There are higher levels of drug use among gay
men than heterosexual men.
U.S.A.: Youth
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Many studies have found LGB young people to be
significantly more likely to use alcohol and drugs, in
particular hard drugs, than heterosexual young people.
Some studies have found little differences between
young gay men and young heterosexual men but
higher levels of consumption by bisexual young men
and higher levels among young lesbian and bisexual
women than heterosexual young women; bisexual
young women seem to be the most vulnerable.
Young LGB people who have been bullied at school are
more likely to abuse substances.
Some studies have found higher levels of more serious
drug use among young gay and bisexual men.
Elsewhere: All Ages
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Swedish study found higher levels of alcohol
use among lesbians than heterosexual women
but not among gay men.
Australian study found higher levels of alcohol
and drug use among LGBQ population than
heterosexual population.
Norwegian survey found higher levels of
alcohol use among lesbian and gay population
than heterosexual population
Australia, 2010
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33% smoked tobacco, much higher proportion than
women in general community; smoking most common in
16-24 year olds (43%)
86% used alcohol; 55% consumed more than the
recommended guidelines to reduce lifetime risk of
alcohol related disease or injury; 28% drank at levels
likely to put them at risk of alcohol-related injury on a
single drinking occasion. Risky drinking was higher than
in the general community
In the preceding six months, 49% had used one or more
illicit drugs including cannabis (36%), ecstasy (18%) and
speed (16%). Rates of drug use were much higher than
in the general community
Elsewhere: Youth
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Australian study found young lesbians more likely than
heterosexual young women to use alcohol
Norwegian study found young lesbian and gays twice
as likely as heterosexual youth to use illegal drugs.
Another Australian survey found LGB young people
more likely than heterosexual young people to use
illegal drugs, this was particularly noticeable among
young lesbians and bisexual women.
A further Australian study found higher levels of binge
drinking and injected drug use among LGB young
people than among heterosexual youth.
Britain: All Ages
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Whilst there have been several drug surveys
which show significant use of illegal drugs
among the LGB population, few compare
consumption levels with heterosexuals.
Several surveys have found higher levels of
alcohol use among lesbians than heterosexual
women.
A study in north west England found higher
levels of illegal drug use among gay men than
among heterosexual population.
King & McKeown (2003) 656 gay men, 505 het men; 430
lesbians, 588 het women; 85 bi men, 113 bi women urban
areas England /Wales
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AUDIT scale, similar levels of alcohol misuse among gay men (9.17),
heterosexual men (9.24) and bisexual men (9.41)
significantly higher levels of alcohol misuse among lesbians (8.09)
and bisexual women (8.58) than among heterosexual women (6.46)
higher levels of recreational drug use among gay men (52%) and
bisexual men (64%) than among heterosexual men (45%) within
the past month
higher levels of recreational drug use among gay men (77%) and
bisexual men (74%) than among heterosexual men (72%) ever
higher levels of recreational drug use among lesbians (44%) and
bisexual women (52%) than among heterosexual women (33%)
within the past month
higher levels of recreational drug use among lesbians (79%) and
bisexual women (84%) than among heterosexual women (60%)
ever
Stonewall: men, 2012
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Two thirds of gay and bisexual men have smoked at
some time in their life compared to half of men in
general
A quarter of gay and bisexual men currently smoke
compared to 22 per cent of men in general
More than two in five (42 per cent) gay and bisexual
men drink alcohol on three or more days a week
compared to 35 per cent of men in general
Half of gay and bisexual men have taken drugs in the
last year compared to just one in eight men in general
Stonewall: women, 2011
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Two thirds of lesbian and bisexual women have smoked
compared to half of women in general; just over a
quarter currently smoke.
Nine in ten lesbian and bisexual women drink and 40 per
cent drink three times a week compared to a quarter of
women in general.
Lesbian and bisexual women are five times more likely to
have taken drugs; over one in ten have taken cocaine,
compared to three per cent of women in general.
Lesbian Gay Foundation 2012:
4,000 LGBTs
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over a fifth of respondents scored as dependent on a
substance, and a quarter showed at least one indicator
of dependency;
34% of gay and bisexual men and 29% of lesbian and
bisexual women binge-drink at least one or twice a
week, around twice as common than in the wider
population;
35% of those surveyed had taken at least one illicit
substance in the last month, which is around seven
times more common than in the general population.
Britain: Youth
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Bridget (1991) 20 young lesbian/bisexual women: 50%
serious drink problems; 50% used drugs
Mullen (1999) 169 young LGBs: 22% more than
recommended levels; 15% thought problem; 50% used
drugs
Bridget (2000) 22 young LGBs: 21 used alcohol – 6 too
much; 16 get drunk; 9 marijuana; 4 hard drugs
Carolan & Redmond (2003): 362 young LGBT (36%
female, 63% male)
34% (n=123) had experienced alcohol misuse 35% (n=81)
male, 33% (n=43) female increases significantly for
transgender - 50% (n=7)
 23% (n=82) experienced drug misuse, 23% (n=53) male, 22%
(n=29) female; increases significantly for transgender 43%
(n=6)
Stonewall (2011) (2012) LGF (2012) all found problems greater
amongst younger participants.
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