March 28, 2008

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Re-Confirms What We Already Knew.

Propaganda and Hate Groups like NARTH and Traditional Values Coalition are fond of throwing out statistics citing the fact that LGBT individuals tend to have a higher predisposition to substance abuse (as well as other mental health issues). What they don’t tell you is the reasons behind those problems, because then they’d be exposing their own guilt. Enter this new study:

The odds of substance use for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth are on average 190 percent higher than for heterosexual youth, according to a study by University of Pittsburgh researchers published in the current issue of Addiction. What’s more, for some sub-populations of LGB youth, the odds were substantially higher, including 340 percent for bisexual youth and 400 percent for lesbians, researchers found.

Ok, nothing new there. But read on. It gets better.

“Homophobia, discrimination and victimization are largely what are responsible for these substance use disparities in young gay people,” said Michael P. Marshal, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, who led the study. “History shows that when marginalized groups are oppressed and do not have equal opportunities and equal rights, they suffer. Our results show that gay youth are clearly no exception.”

Interesting none of the “Won’t somebody please think of the children?” people can be moved to consider the LGBT children who are suffering as a result of their bigotry and oppression.

In a meta-analysis of 18 previous studies from 1994 to 2006, which tested the association between sexual orientation and teen substance use, Pitt researchers found that gay youth reported higher rates of cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use, as well as other illicit drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamines and injection drugs. Almost all of the studies in their review were cross-sectional, suggesting that very little is known about the long-term patterns or consequences of drug use in this vulnerable population. Furthermore, the authors conducted a systematic review of the prevention and intervention guidelines published by the American Medical Association, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism and the Institute of Medicine. They found that none of the institutions mentioned sexual orientation as a potential risk factor for substance use in teens, and did not provide information for researchers and health care professionals on how to prevent such problems.

“It is important to remember that the vast majority of gay youth are happy and healthy, despite the stressors of living in a violent, homophobic society,” noted Dr. Marshal. “More than anything, gay youth need love, support and acceptance from their family members and friends. It also is imperative that health care providers offer a safe, confidential environment to discuss health care needs with gay teens.”…

Though this is a significant study I doubt the people who need to heed it most will do so as it would require them to change their attitudes and behaviors. Accordingly we’ll continue to fight an uphill battle. Nonetheless we have another valuable weapon in our arsenal, for which I am very grateful.

Posted by: Buffy

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