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Addiction Treatment for LGBTQ+ Individuals

Eric Ekberg Medically reviewed by Eric Ekberg
Updated on

With a growing awareness of the unique struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in terms of mental health and substance abuse, many drug rehab centers are taking steps to reach this demographic.

Many rehabs are working to ensure they’re equipped to provide quality programs and support to this large and often vulnerable population. 

The LGBTQ+ Experience

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) community has long faced discrimination and abuse. Many LGBTQ+ individuals have encountered painful hardships that have included cruelty from society and sometimes from their own family and friends.

They may have been subjected to unfair (sometimes illegal) treatment in job and school settings. Some have been refused service by businesses or received care that treated their LGBTQ+ self-identification as a “problem” needing to be fixed.

All these issues may factor into the well-documented disparity in LGBTQ mental health. LGBTQ+ individuals are three times more likely than non-LGBTQ individuals to experience a mental health condition, and they are more likely to struggle with substance abuse as well as suicidal thoughts.

Addiction and the LGBTQ+ Community

Those who self-identify as LGBTQ+ may face additional struggles on their road to recovery. Not all treatment centers are LGBTQ-friendly. Some may refuse LGBTQ+ clients while others may discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals in treatment, sometimes unwittingly. Still, others may simply not be equipped to address the unique issues that this population faces in recovery. 

These concerns can make it even more difficult for an LGBTQ+ individual with a substance use disorder (SUD) to begin a treatment program.

Addiction Treatment for LGBTQ+

Often, a person with a drug dependency will have anxiety about entering a residential drug treatment center. The thought of going through withdrawal and then working through intensive therapy to deal with entrenched issues and behavioral patterns can be intimidating, even when the alternative is a harrowing drug or substance addiction.

An LGBTQ individual has to deal with these standard worries as well as additional anxieties. Will the treatment center and therapist truly be LGBTQ-friendly? Will they be the only LGBTQ individual in treatment? Will others in treatment be accepting of their lifestyle?

LGBTQ-Friendly Treatment Centers

Today, many treatment centers are LGBTQ-friendly. While many advertise themselves as LGBTQ-friendly, some of these treatment centers offer no specialized programs for LGBTQ+ clients. They simply accept LGBTQ+ clients into their regular programs. 

Because of the high rates of LGBTQ+ discrimination, and the degree to which biases and judgment may be present in the general population, a higher standard of care may be necessary.

Consider Asking These Questions of an LGBTQ-Friendly Center

  • Has the staff been trained in LGBTQ-specific care and therapy? 
  • What kind of LGBTQ-specific programs are offered?
  • What kind of experience does the program have with LGBTQ+ individuals?
  • Is there an LGBTQ+ community at the treatment center?
  • Do any of the staff self-identify as LGBTQ+?
  • What are the housing accommodations for LGBTQ+ individuals?
  • Are other individuals in treatment LGBTQ-friendly?

Many treatment centers accept LGBTQ+ clients, but to treat this population adequately, the center must create a safe space for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. This means a space in which an individual can safely and comfortably detox, a welcoming environment in which to address the physical and psychological aspects of their addiction, and a safe place to discuss, identify and attempt to manage underlying triggers and trauma that may have played a role in the addiction.

LGBTQ+ individuals can benefit from working with a therapist who either identifies as LGBTQ+ or has a lot of direct experience working with LGBTQ+ individuals. They can better understand and address the issues that many in this demographic deal with daily. These issues often contribute to the addiction problem.

Similarly, clients can benefit if there are other LGBTQ+ individuals in the treatment program. They may be more likely to relate to experiences that are shared in group therapy and support group meetings.

Finding Acceptance in Treatment

According to a 2017 report completed by North Carolina-based research firm RTI International, using their own study and examining statistics from 1992 to present, the rates of school bullying of LGBTQ+ adolescents continues to be dangerously high. LGBTQ+ students are at a two to three times increased risk to be threatened or physically assaulted in school, and they are 91 percent more likely to be bullied.

The suicide rate among LGBTQ+ adolescents may be double to quadruple the rate of non-LGBTQ adolescents. 

While these numbers are specific to LGBTQ+ adolescents, they provide insight into the discrimination many LGBTQ+ individuals have faced from an early age and the kind of trauma they may have endured in reaching adulthood. 

They also emphasize the importance of an LGBTQ+ individual finding a treatment center that offers a fully accepting and welcoming environment. In many cases, the trauma of discrimination and cruelty has played a part in the individual’s addiction, serving as an underlying issue with deep-rooted pain that they may have self-medicated to avoid.

The last thing this individual needs is a treatment center where they feel unwelcome, judged, or discriminated against. This can play right into the cycle of discrimination, trauma, and addiction they are trying to overcome.

Begin LGBTQ+ Addiction Treatment With Us Today

LGBTQ+ individuals experience higher rates of addiction and suicide, so this is a population that should not be ignored in addiction treatment. 

The best drug rehabs for LGBTQ+ individuals will have experience working with this demographic as well an environment that promotes and celebrates inclusivity.

Choosing the right rehab center is one of the most important steps in your recovery journey. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, it’s essential to consider the level of care, specialized LGBTQ+ treatment options, and aftercare services offered by the facility. Contact us today to get started!

(2012) Substance use in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: An update on empirical research and implications for treatment. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. American Psychological Association. Retrieved March 2019 from: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-25205-001

(2017) Mental Health Disparities: LGBTQ. American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved March 2019 from: https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-LGBTQ.pdf

(March 2017) Violence and LGBTQ Communities: What Do We Know, and What Do We Need to Know? RTI International. Retrieved March 2019 from: https://www.rti.org/sites/default/files/rti_violence_and_lgbtq_communities.pdf

(2007) Do specialized services exist for LGBT individuals seeking treatment for substance misuse? A study of available treatment programs. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved March 2019 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17366131

(2004) Treatment Counselor’s Attitudes About Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Clients: Urban vs. Rural Settings. Substance Use & Misuse. Retrieved March 2019 from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c2e3/46a4d07de753a93cfff2ea7dcb26137aface.pdf

Eric Ekberg

Eric Ekberg

Medical Reviewer
Experienced CEO with demonstrated success working in the Healthcare and Financial Services Industry. Skilled in Management, Business Development, and the Implementation of Strategic Business Plans. A successful Business and Healthcare professional with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Finance from New York University.
Elysia Richardson

Elysia Richardson

Editor
Elysia is a writer and editor for California Highlands and has dedicated her career to creating well-researched content so that those that are in search of treatment can find the help they need.
Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Staff Writer
Serenity at Summit is staffed with a team of expert writers and researchers that are dedicated to creating well-written and accurate content to help those that are seeking treatment find the help they need.

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