A new US study that began in 2015 has suggested lesbian, gay, bisexual or questioning (LGBQ) teens are at substantially higher risk of substance use than their heterosexual peers.
The study led by San Diego State University researchers and published in the American Journal of Public Health showed LGBQ teens were more likely to have ever used 14 of the 15 substances studied, including alcohol, cigarettes, cigars, cocaine, ecstasy, electronic vapor (“vaping”), hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants, marijuana, methamphetamine, prescription drugs (without physician direction), steroids, and synthetic marijuana.
It also stated LGBQ teens were at greater risk for having used harder drugs.
As part of the most recent National Youth Risk Behavior Survey—the largest national survey on adolescent health, 15,624 high school students were asked about their use of 15 substances, including alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
The survey also included questions about sexual identity, including whether teens identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning.
The survey included questions gauging potential ongoing use for some substances by asking about their use during the past 30 days.
Compared to their heterosexual peers, LGBQ teens faced an elevated risk for going use of alcohol, cigarettes, cigars, vaping, and marijuana.
Speaking about the study results, study co-author John W Ayers because LGBQ and non-LGBQ teens differ in more ways than just sexual identity, the research team used statistical models to adjust for differences in age, sex, race, academic grades, and English proficiency when further comparing substance-use risks.
“There have been some indications that LGBQ teens face increased substance use risks, but our study shows for the first time that the problem goes far beyond alcohol and tobacco, including the hardest most dangerous drugs,” said SDSU School of Public Health associate research professor and study co-author John W. Ayers.
Call to Act
The study group has called on academic, community and government leaders to begin addressing what they say is an LGBQ substance use crisis.
The study identifies a serious problem, noted Ayers, but “fortunately decades of science and experience can be leveraged to address LGBQ teen’s substance use risk. Now is the time to act.”
More details on the study here.
Last Updated on Aug 13, 2018
The news team for Gay Nation love tips from our readers. Got tips or a news story that you would like published? Go here to tell us something.
Visit the Gay Nation store Now
