Stress, Coping, and Context: Examining Substance Use Among LGBTQ Young Adults With Probable Substance Use Disorders

In this research, the authors explored how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) young adults with problematic substance use made sense of their substance use in relation to their LGBTQ identities.

The authors interviewed 59 LGBTQ young adults and analysed the data through thematic analysis.

Results:

• participants reported issues relating to minority stress such as self-stigma, rejection and discrimination
• the young adults described sociocultural influences such as the availability of substances use within LGBTQ social settings
• participants commented on the challenge of coping at the intersection of minority identities. 

The authors stressed the importance of professionals who are working with young LGBTQ+ adults regarding substance use to take into account their identities and experiences with related stressors and sociocultural contexts and adopt culturally humble and LGBTQ-affirming treatment approaches.

Furthermore, efforts to support LGBTQ youths and young adults should focus on identifying ways of socialising outside of substance-saturated environments.