In form, drug treatment for gay and lesbian individuals is not significantly different from a Drug Rehab Program for any other kind of addict. Just like anyone else, gay and lesbian men and women need to get professional help, to get through withdrawal and learn to create a life without drugs and alcohol. Because of larger societal issues and aspects of the gay and lesbian community itself, gays and lesbians have issues specific to their community. For that reason, gays and lesbians may benefit from a treatment program that specifically addresses their unique needs.
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Gay and Lesbian Drug Treatment
Being a member of the lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer LGBTQ community comes with a unique set of challenges. Social acceptance, discrimination, and family and personal relationship challenges are often faced by lesbians. Social stigma can cause feelings of isolation and being misunderstood. Because of these difficult situations that have likely been encountered for many years, sexual minorities, such as lesbians, are at a greater risk for developing substance use disorders as a way to cope with these challenges. Research has shown that lesbians are more likely to misuse alcohol over their lifetimes. They have reported heavier alcohol use, more frequent use, and more binge drinking than heterosexual women. Data suggests that lesbians are more likely to develop an alcohol use or drug dependency disorder than heterosexual women, but they are also more likely to seek treatment for the substance problem.
What Are the Unique Treatment Needs for Lesbians Suffering from Drug Abuse?
We take a creative approach in the treatment of substance use. Our program is designed to enrich the emotional health and well-being of our clients while focusing on topics related to the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming and queer-identified addicts and alcoholics. We combine spiritually-inclusive 12 step recovery and integrative therapies such as nutrition coaching, meditation and tai chi to maximize a client's potential to embracing long-term recovery. To inspire a better life, our program provides opportunities for our clients to build the foundation needed for a solid road in recovery, this involves having a vision for the future. At Inspire Recovery, we know that sexual orientation and gender identity are a core part of an individual and the ways in which a person feels accepted, appreciated and understood.
Research on the incidence, etiology and substance abuse treatment needs of lesbian, bisexual and transgender LBT women is limited. Most research indicates higher levels of alcohol and drug abuse among these populations compared to their heterosexual counterparts, with recent research indicating that substance abuse is a particular concern for transgender individuals and an increasing problem among younger LBT individuals. Risk factors and reasons for substance abuse among sexual minority women are similar to those of heterosexual women, yet are substantially complicated by issues of family rejection and lack of social support, stigma and minority stress, as well as abuse and harassment.