Annesa Flentje1, Nicholas A Livingston2, Jason Roley3, James L Sorensen4. 1. Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, California, 94143. Electronic address: annesa.flentje@ucsf.edu. 2. Department of Psychology, The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive Missoula, Montana, 59812. 3. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California, 94110; School of Medicine, Drexel University, 3300 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19129. 4. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California, 94110.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) orientation predicts greater substance use, treatment utilization, and poorer mental and physical health, but health needs of LGB individuals in substance abuse treatment remain largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in mental and physical health needs of LGB individuals in substance abuse treatment. METHODS: Substance abuse treatment admissions data from the County of San Francisco were used in this investigation of differences in mental and physical health problems and service utilization between LGB (n=1,441) and heterosexual individuals (n=11,770). RESULTS: LGB individuals were more likely to have mental health diagnoses (adjORs ranging from 1.86 to 4.00) and current mental health prescription medications (adjORs from 1.79 to 4.99) than heterosexual counterparts. Gay and bisexual men and bisexual women but not lesbian women, were more likely to be receiving mental health treatment. Gay men and bisexual women were more likely than heterosexual counterparts to report physical health problems. Gay and bisexual men and bisexual women but not lesbian women were more likely to be receiving health care. There were no differences between LGB individuals and heterosexual counterparts in the number of emergency room visits or hospital overnight stays. DISCUSSION: This study found that LGB individuals entering substance abuse treatment have greater mental and physical health needs than heterosexual counterparts. Implications for healthcare integration, research, and practice are discussed.
OBJECTIVE: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) orientation predicts greater substance use, treatment utilization, and poorer mental and physical health, but health needs of LGB individuals in substance abuse treatment remain largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in mental and physical health needs of LGB individuals in substance abuse treatment. METHODS: Substance abuse treatment admissions data from the County of San Francisco were used in this investigation of differences in mental and physical health problems and service utilization between LGB (n=1,441) and heterosexual individuals (n=11,770). RESULTS: LGB individuals were more likely to have mental health diagnoses (adjORs ranging from 1.86 to 4.00) and current mental health prescription medications (adjORs from 1.79 to 4.99) than heterosexual counterparts. Gay and bisexual men and bisexual women but not lesbian women, were more likely to be receiving mental health treatment. Gay men and bisexual women were more likely than heterosexual counterparts to report physical health problems. Gay and bisexual men and bisexual women but not lesbian women were more likely to be receiving health care. There were no differences between LGB individuals and heterosexual counterparts in the number of emergency room visits or hospital overnight stays. DISCUSSION: This study found that LGB individuals entering substance abuse treatment have greater mental and physical health needs than heterosexual counterparts. Implications for healthcare integration, research, and practice are discussed.
Authors: Joel Swendsen; Kevin P Conway; Louisa Degenhardt; Meyer Glantz; Robert Jin; Kathleen R Merikangas; Nancy Sampson; Ronald C Kessler Journal: Addiction Date: 2010-03-10 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Leanne Hides; Steve Carroll; Lisa Catania; Sue M Cotton; Amanda Baker; Antonietta Scaffidi; Dan I Lubman Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2009-07-14 Impact factor: 4.839