“It is likely the substance use decreases inhibitions, denial, anxiety, or even fear of gay sex.” [1]

A short while ago while dancing at a gay establishment, I noticed a young guy swaying recklessly while his friends kept him from taking a face-first plunge. It reminded me of earlier times when I was told at Metro Boyztown that several of the patrons who seemed to be having the best time there were high on ecstasy.

I also remember reading several years ago that while about 10 percent of the heterosexual community abused substances, gays and lesbians were closer to 30 percent. [2] One can certainly get that impression if you watch or study young people at a gay bar, but is it really any different compared with watching youth at a straight bar? The gay and lesbian community used to be a lot more closeted than it is today, although at times it seems we have gone retro in Alberta. When I came out in 1993, there were three gay dance bars in Calgary – BBX, Boyztown, and Detours/Arena – and at least two in Edmonton.

If researchers study bar patrons, we are going to look overrepresented as being a community of drinkers, druggies, and partiers. I suppose we would likely find lots of Christians in churches too and not so many atheists!

Today we have more representative studies with large sample sizes, so when it comes to getting a sense of where we are today, I turn to this research for something I can trust – to some extent, at least. Nearly all psychological research continues to be tainted by the fact that people choose whether to participate in a study or not, and perhaps the ones who refuse are the ones we should most study. Individual choice and ethics, however, are ultimately more important. Anyway, here is what I learned as I began to read about this topic.

A Norwegian study published in 2007 reported the results from 2,632 male and 2,838 females, ages 16-19. They compared three groups of adolescents based on their sexual experience and attraction: (a) heterosexual orientation and attraction only, (b) same-sex experience but interest only in the opposite sex, and (c) same-sex attraction. The youths reporting same-sex attraction were the most poorly integrated with peers and their use of illegal drugs (except marijuana) was more than three times that of the heterosexual youths. Both groups characterized by same-sex orientation of some kind (“b” and “c” groups) reported more frequent alcohol and drug use compared to adolescents with a heterosexual orientation. [3]

A 2006 British Columbia study surveyed 590 students in grades 9-12. Only 15 individuals defined themselves as gay or bisexual, and of these, 13 were female. A greater proportion of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) students (5 of 15, 33%) reported any use during the previous year of crystal meth, ecstasy, GHB, or ketamine, compared to their heterosexual counterparts (57 of 575; 9.9%). [4] With such a small sample of GLB students, these results should be viewed with great caution. Other studies, however, have shown significant alcohol and drug use with lesbian and bisexual women.

A study conducted in New York City in 2005 looked at women frequenting dance clubs. Of the 1,104 respondents, 53.3 percent were heterosexual and 46.3 percent were either lesbian or bisexual. The researchers found that the younger women were the most likely to be active drug users. They also found that the lesbian and bisexual women had a higher lifetime rate of using ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine, and LSD compared to heterosexual women. [5]

Another study of 2,011 lesbian and bisexual women published in 2006 found that 16.2 percent reported severe use of substances over their lifetime and another 10.8 percent reported moderately-risky use. The authors concluded that their illicit drug use was frequently associated with impairment and other life problems. [6]

The available research suggests that bisexual males and females have the highest incidence of drug and alcohol use, at least when compared to heterosexual and gay/lesbian samples. A representative American study from 1999 surveyed students at 119 four-year schools in 39 states. Their analysis was based on 9,400 respondents. The sample was primarily women (60.3%). Furthermore, 93.9% were heterosexual, 2.4% gay/lesbian, and 3.7% bisexual. There were significant differences in marijuana use. The bisexuals had the highest levels of use (33.3%), followed next by the heterosexuals (19%), and gays/lesbians (14.6%). Bisexual females had the highest level of marijuana use (35.1%). Bisexual females were approximately three times more likely to have used both marijuana and other illicit drugs, whereas bisexual males were more than two times as likely to have used other illicit drugs. [7]

In conclusion, the available evidence continues to indicate that members of the sexual minority community continue to use alcohol and illicit drugs at high levels. While studies reveal that heterosexuals decrease their use of alcohol with age, this occurs less often with gay men and lesbian women. [8] When substance abuse problems do develop, research has shown that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) individuals who seek treatment, experience addictions that are usually of greater severity compared to the heterosexual treatment seekers. Furthermore, the GLBT addicts are more likely to be experiencing other mental disorders as well. [9]

If you are using alcohol and drugs in a way that is harmful to you, seriously consider getting help now. Contact your nearest Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) office to take that first step. Their services won’t cost you anything but they may save your life and perhaps someone else’s.

Dr. Alderson is an associate professor of counselling psychology at the University of Calgary who specializes in gay and lesbian studies. He also maintains a private practice. He can be contacted by confidential email at alderson@ucalgary.ca, or by confidential voice mail at 605-5234.

References:

1. Olson, E. D. (2000). Gay teens and substance use disorders: Assessment and treatment. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy, 3(3-4), 69-80 [quote from p. 71].

2. McDonald, H. B., & Steinhorn, A. I. (1990). Homosexuality: A practical guide to counseling lesbians, gay men, and their families. New York: Continuum.

3. Hegna, K., & Rossow, I. (2007). What’s love got to do with it? Substance use and social intergration for young people categorized by same-sex experience and attractions. Journal of Drug Issues, 37(2), 229-256.

4. Lampinen, T. M., McGhee, D., & Martin, I. (2006). Increased risk of “club” drug use among gay and bisexual high school students in British Columbia. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38(4), 458-461.

5. Parsons, J. T., Kelly, B. C., & Wells, B. E. (2006). Differences in club drug use between heterosexual and lesbian/bisexual females. Addictive Behaviors, 31(12), 2344-2349.

6. Corliss, H. L., Grella, C. E., Mays, V. M. & Cochran, S. D. (2006). Drug use, drug severity, and help-seeking behaviors of lesbian and bisexual women. Journal of Women’s Health, 15(5), 556-568.

7. Ford, J. A., & Jasinski, J. L. (2006). Sexual orientation and substance use among college students. Addictive Behaviors, 31(3), 404-413.

8. Peterkin, A., & Risdon, C. (2003). Caring for lesbian and gay people: A clinical guide. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

9. Cochran, B. N., & Cauce, A. M. (2006). Characteristics of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals entering substance abuse treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 30(2), 135-146.