Substance Use Disorders and Comorbidities LGBTQ individuals often enter treatment with more severe SUDs. 7 Some common SUD treatment modalities have been shown to be effective for gay or bisexual men, including motivational interviewing, social support therapy, contingency management, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). 8
Full Answer
How do LGBT youth receive mental health services?
When LGBT youth do receive treatment, it is usually through primary care providers. Age restrictions, an inability to pay for treatment, and transportation problems prevent many teenagers from being able to reach out to secondary mental health service providers.
How does behavioral therapy help the LGBT community with addiction?
Behavioral therapy is a part of treatment, and this includes family counseling, peer support, and group therapy. The problem with all of these important parts of addiction treatment for the LGBT community is that this population often faces inadequate care and medical professionals that don’t understand their needs or properly meet them.
How can therapists help LGBT clients form social support and relationships?
In order to help LGBT clients form social support and relationships, therapists and treatment staff need to have a thorough understanding of the impact of rejection, homophobia, and fear on someone’s social and emotional health.
Are there barriers to substance use disorder treatment for LGBT people?
The LGBT community faces some unique barriers to getting treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. If these barriers are not recognized and addressed, professional care CANNOT adequately address Substance Use Disorder in LGBT people. What are the barriers?
What is the most effective intervention for substance abuse?
CBT is often rated as the most effective approach to treatment with a drug and alcohol population.
How can Lgbtq improve healthcare?
Respect LGBTQ PatientsInclude sexual orientation and gender identity in nondiscrimination policies.Create a welcoming environment. ... Ask transgender patients for their preferred name and pronoun and use them. ... Ensure transgender individuals have reasonable access to restrooms.More items...•
What are several treatment methods for substance use disorders?
What are treatments for drug addiction?behavioral counseling.medication.medical devices and applications used to treat withdrawal symptoms or deliver skills training.evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.long-term follow-up to prevent relapse.
What is the most common treatment modality for substance related disorders?
Group Therapy. Group therapy is the most widely used treatment modality in substance abuse treatment programs (Etheridge et al.
How can LGBTQ make healthcare more inclusive?
are set up in a manner that reflects inclusiveness of LGBTQ patients and families. Carefully reviewing visitation policies to ensure that they are fair and non-discriminatory in nature. Training staff to avoid making assumptions about a patient's gender identity or sexual orientation based solely on appearance.
How can nurses advocate for LGBTQ patients?
In terms of LGBTQ competency, nurses can proactively serve as formal and informal leaders by: Demonstrating curiosity and open-mindedness towards these vulnerable communities. Taking responsibility for educating themselves and their colleagues. Using non-gendered language when discussing patients' relationships.
How do you develop a treatment plan for substance abuse?
Treatment plans should consider how substance abuse impacts all aspects of your life, including your mental, physical, social, and financial health....Here are the main elements of a treatment plan.Diagnostic Summary. ... Problem List. ... Goals. ... Objectives. ... Interventions. ... Tracking and Evaluating Progress. ... Planning Long-Term Care.
Which of these treatments has been found to be most effective in treating addiction?
According to American Addiction Centers, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a valuable treatment tool because it can be used for many different types of addiction including, but not limited to, food addiction, alcohol addiction, and prescription drug addiction.
How should a patient's treatment plan be developed?
Treatment plans usually follow a simple format and typically include the following information: The patient's personal information, psychological history and demographics. A diagnosis of the current mental health problem. High-priority treatment goals.
How is substance abuse prevented?
By paying attention during transitional times, creating a healthy schedule, recognizing clear signs of substance abuse, managing mental illness, knowing what you're looking for, and swapping peer pressure for support networks, you can help prevent substance abuse.
What are treatment modalities?
Treatment modalities, or methods of treatment, are the ways that a doctor or administrative health professional treat a patient with mental, emotional, personality disorders or dual diagnosis.
What are three steps you can take to stay away from drugs?
Tips for Staying Drug-FreeLearn to Set SMART Goals. ... Build Habits to Stay Busy. ... Sweat it out. ... Cut out toxic relationships. ... Utilize support systems. ... Practice positive self talk. ... Adopt a pet. ... Walk away from stress.More items...
What is the Department of Health and Human Services?
The United States Department of Health and Human Services provides resources for LGBT-related health issues and health needs. For more information about equal access to health services for the LGBT community, visit the HHS website.
What is mental illness?
Mental illness is a disorder related to a person’s thought patterns, emotions, moods and behavior. Ranging from mild to severe, mental illness can cause problems in interpersonal relationships, job performance, and daily function. Mental illness varies widely from one person to another; even if two people received the same diagnosis, each person will experience the symptoms differently. Mental illness is more prevalent in the LGBT community than the general population, according to data from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Mental Health America, a large nonprofit organization that raises awareness about mental illness in the nation, provides the following facts and statistics about mental health challenges in the LGBT community:
How Addiction Affects the LGBTQ Community
Listed below are some facts about how substance addiction affects the LGBTQ community members, which include:
Hurdles the LGBTQ Community Faces
There is a higher rate of substance abuse that the LGBTQ community suffers from than the rest of society as a whole. This because numerous imposed barriers that civilization has placed in which they regularly face, that others who identify as heterosexual don’t.
Typical Co-Occurring Disorders Amongst the LGBTQ Community
A perspective that may produce internal conflict for LGBTQ community members is that frequently, they’re obliged to live a private lifestyle. This is when they conceal their sexuality from peers due to concerns of rejection and live a secretive life because of their sexual orientation.
Substances of Choice Used Within The LGBTQ Community
Although there are many addictive substances, five are abused more frequently within the LGBTQ community, which include:
Meeting the Specific Demands of LGBTQ Populations
LGBTQ-friendly treatment centers will understand the other factors and execute the concepts in their practices. Through doing so, these LGBTQ substance abuse treatment centers can produce more efficient protocols to address numerous LGBTQ-specific issues, including the following:
Getting The Help Required to Overcome Addiction
The LGBTQ community’s degree of addiction concerns, as well as the numerous hurdles and barriers they face daily, could all contribute to substance addiction.
What is behavioral therapy?
Behavioral therapy is a part of treatment, and this includes family counseling, peer support, and group therapy. The problem with all of these important parts of addiction treatment for the LGBT community is that this population often faces inadequate care and medical professionals that don’t understand their needs or properly meet them.
What are the barriers to addiction treatment?
The barriers to treatment that generally prevent people from getting the care they need are varied, but they are mostly related to: 1. Shortages of Facilities – Treatment is in high demand in many communities, and in some places there just aren’t enough available beds.
Why is addiction so difficult to treat?
For a community that experiences higher levels of isolation, less access to financial resources, and a greater risk of social problems as the result of rejection from interpersonal networks, addiction can become even more complex to treat. And these same factors make accessing that treatment even more difficult.
What is the NIDA guidelines?
Lack of Access to Quality Treatment. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says that effective treatment should follow several principles. Included in these guidelines are the stipulations that: Treatment should address clients’ social, medical, psychological, vocational and legal problems.
Can LGBT people afford drug treatment?
With less financial resources, many members of the LGBT community can’t afford things like drug and alcohol addiction treatment, or may only have access to sub-par, underfunded public programs. Social Isolation and Rejection: Part of successful recovery comes from having a strong support network of friends and family.
Is drug addiction a social problem?
Ultimately, drug and alcohol addiction is a complex disease of physical, psychological, and social elements. For a community that experiences higher levels of isolation, less access to financial resources, and a greater risk of social problems as the result of rejection from interpersonal networks, addiction can become even more complex to treat. And these same factors make accessing that treatment even more difficult.
Is there a lack of treatment for LGBT people?
Insufficient Treatment in the General Population and in the LGBT Community. Unfortunately, many people aren’t getting the care they need to deal with their drug and alcohol addiction. According to the Surgeon General of the United States, only 1 out of 10 of the people who need treatment actually get it.
What are the health issues of LGBTQ people?
These individuals are also prone to mood disorders, eating disorders, and other types of psychiatric problems. In addition, some may suffer from serious health issues such as hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Dealing with these medical issues can interfere with the ability and desire to seek substance abuse treatment.
Can alcohol and drugs help with homophobia?
The result is often self-loathing and an inability to feel comfortable in one’s own skin. For those suffering from internalized homophobia, alcohol and drugs serve as an effective mechanism for silencing negative thoughts. When drunk or high, LGBTQ individuals can temporarily enjoy living as their true selves.
Do LGBTQ people face discrimination?
Despite growing acceptance in the United States, almost all LGBTQ individuals face some level of homophobia and discrimination. This may come from strangers, acquaintances, and even friends and family. They also face the constant threat of workplace harassment, bullying, and even hate crimes.