An LGBT Specific Rehab Might Be Right for You

Roughly ten percent of the population is lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT). If you are one of these people, you are at higher risk of using substances and developing a substance abuse disorder.

It is often prejudices and what they create that drive LGBT individuals to addiction. Things like gay-related traumatic events, internalized homophobia, and emotional suffering often cause LGBT individuals to seek comfort in substance abuse.

A study in the Western Journal of Medicine reminds readers that there is a limited amount of information available on general health concerns of the LGBT community because they are not often included in studies. Further, many LGBT people do not disclose their membership in the group because they fear the repercussions.

Even more worrying, numerous LGBT individuals never even seek health care because of previous negative interactions. The lack of information coupled with the general fear of healthcare means that many LGBT individuals are not getting the care that they need.

If you are operating out of a fear of prejudice and you know you need drug and alcohol treatment but you can’t bring yourself to seek it out, an LGBT specific rehab center could be the solution you are looking. Let InpatientDrugRehabCenters.com help you find a treatment center that will make you feel comfortable. Just call 800-430-1407Who Answers? to get started.

LGBT Addiction Data

LGBT specific rehab centers focus on improving self-acceptance along with addiction recovery.

The CDC acknowledges that in comparison to the general public members of the LGBT community are more likely to:

• Use drugs and alcohol
• Fail to hold back from alcohol and drug use
• Have a high rate of substance abuse
• Carry on heavy drinking into later life

The reasons assumed for this are as reactions to homophobia, discrimination, and violence faced because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Other research indicates that these patterns of drug and alcohol dependence and abuse can be traced back to adolescence. One study discovered the odds of substance abuse compared to heterosexual youth are (on average):

• 190% higher for LGBT youth
• 340% higher for bisexual youth
• 400% higher for females

The research grants it does not know the causes or outcomes of long-term substance use among the LGBT population.

With such high rates of drug and alcohol abuse, many, many LGBT people should be in treatment, but (as mentioned earlier) they aren’t seeking treatment.

LGBT Rehab

If fear of persecution is holding you back from pursuing inpatient rehab, perhaps knowing a little more about what is offered would help.

LGBT specific rehab is built around the issues that matter for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered addicts. That means that therapy, for example, is tailored to not only deal with addiction but also help patients deal with the prejudices and aggression that act as their triggers. A focus for all patients is on self-acceptance.

The shame of addiction coupled with internalized homophobic or gender shame is too much for a person to handle. Learning to manage these negative feelings can go a long way towards recovering from addiction.

In addition, all of the patients will be members of the LGBT community. Obviously, that doesn’t mean that you will relate to all of the other patients, but it does mean that you will share experiences that may not be dealt with sensitively in a traditional rehab setting. You can expect to be fully accepted and welcomed in an LGBT inpatient rehab center.

Benefits of Gender Specific Inpatient Rehab Programs

Questions to Ask

When looking for a program that meets your needs, there are considerations to take into account.

Be sure to check which members of the LGBT community the program is geared toward. Make sure, for example, if you are a FTM trans man that a gay men’s treatment program will include you. They may not or they may not be equipped to deal with your trans issues fully. You deserve to be catered to entirely.

Check into the qualifications of the doctors and staff. It is important that they have training in LGBT issues as well as in addiction. If it is important to you that the staff have actual LGBT members included, this is worth looking into as well.

If an LGBT inpatient rehab center could meet your needs, you should take the time to look for one and InpatientDrugRehabCenters.com can help. Just call 800-430-1407Who Answers? and speak with someone today.