Substance Abuse and Gay Men: Is There a Link?
Being a gay male in this country is not easy.Things have gotten much better since the Stonewall Riots when gay men publicly stood up and spoke out for their rights. Yet, there is still much progress to be made. One area, in particular, is the trifold link between gay men, substance abuse, and mental health.There are reasons for why this occurs, and they are based on often years of emotional pain and distress. But, it doesn’t have to be this way.With support and treatment, gay men can overcome and heal from substance abuse.
The Statistics for Gay Men and Substance Abuse
According to the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Drug Abuse, LGBTQ people, including gay men, have higher rates of substance abuse than the rest of the population. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported these findings in a 2015 study.The study found that:
In general, LGBTQ people were more likely (39.1%) to have used illegal substances for a year, as compared to heterosexual people (17.1%).
Also, in the past year, over 30% of LGBTQ people in the study had used marijuana versus heterosexuals (12.9%).
10.4% of LGBTQ people abused prescription drugs, as opposed to 4.5% of heterosexual people.
Additionally, and sadly, LGBTQ adolescents also had higher rates of substance abuse than heterosexual adolescents.Yet, why do gay men or LGBTQ people, in general, experience higher levels of substance abuse than the general population? The answers are more basic than perhaps you realize.
Rejection and the Gay Experience
When gay men begin to understand who they are, they are also often taught that those feelings are wrong. The sources of this message may come from parents, family, their religion, and even society at large.Even though how our society treats gay youth has changed dramatically and continues to evolve, the fact remains that it still celebrates the straight male experience. Therefore, from an early age, youth receive the message that being gay is somehow wrong.Unsurprisingly, this is going to cause emotional distress. Also, you don’t want to face rejection from the groups of people who, in many cases, are the only sources of community you have known.To drive this point home, another study found that LGBTQ youth experienced higher levels of substance abuse than heterosexual youth at a rate of 190%.
Rejection and a Search for Belonging in Adulthood
As gay youth grow into adulthood, the baggage of rejection can transform into shame. For many gay men, especially those who are still in the closet, there is an inner turmoil that rages inside.On the one hand, they have feelings that they know are part of who they truly are. On the other hand, they were also taught that these feelings are innately wrong.As adults, these men will seek community and a sense of belonging from other gay men. Yet, often alcohol and drugs will be a part of that experience.It’s not without irony that the Stonewall Riots started a gay bar in Manhattan. These were places where LGBTQ people sought out belonging and where they felt they could be themselves.
What Gay Men Can Do about Substance Abuse
Although the numbers are stark when it comes to gay men and substance abuse, help is available. The most effective means of recovering from substance abuse is to find professional support from a therapist.A therapist who understands the issues surrounding substance abuse and the issues gay men face can help tremendously. These are complex issues that require a trained and knowledgeable counselor. Substance abuse can be devastating, no matter who you are. However, if you are a gay male, it can have an especially powerful hold on you.—The link between substance abuse and gay men exists as well as for the LGBTQ community overall. That’s because the roots of substance abuse come from years of rejection, shame, and more traumatic experiences. If you feel stuck in a cycle of substance abuse and want to make a change, please reach out to me for help today and learn how psychotherapy can help you.