Cara A Struble1, Kathryn Thomas2,3, Madeline R Stenersen4, Kelly E Moore5, Catherine Burke4, Brian Pittman4, Sherry A McKee4. 1. Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA. 2. Justice Collaboratory, Yale Law School, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 3. SEICHE Center for Health and Justice, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 5. Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sexual minority individuals demonstrate disparate rates of substance use. Research suggests that bisexual women are vulnerable to substance use disorders when compared to other sexual minority groups. This study explored differences in prevalence of past-year alcohol use disorder (AUD) with and without concurrent past-year opioid and/or benzodiazepine misuse. METHODS: The present study utilized responses from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) public dataset between the years 2015-2019 (N = 16,002) to examine the association between sexual orientation and concurrent misuse of opioids and/or benzodiazepines among individuals with past-year AUD, stratified by sex. RESULTS: Bisexual females demonstrated higher rates of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use compared to all other groups. Although there was no association between sexual orientation and concurrent substance use patterns among males, female respondents with past-year AUD endorsing past-year misuse of opioids and benzodiazepines, both alone and in combination, were more likely to be bisexual compared to heterosexual. Lesbians were less likely to endorse concurrent misuse of opioids and benzodiazepines compared to bisexual females. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In a national sample, bisexual females demonstrated higher odds of risky concurrent substance use patterns. Identifying sexual minority individuals who exhibit elevated risk of co-occurring alcohol, opioid, and/or benzodiazepine misuse is an important step to targeted prevention efforts and allocation of resources to combat rising overdose deaths. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: For the first time, this study explored risky concurrent alcohol, opioid, and benzodiazepine misuse patterns among individuals of different sexual orientations.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sexual minority individuals demonstrate disparate rates of substance use. Research suggests that bisexual women are vulnerable to substance use disorders when compared to other sexual minority groups. This study explored differences in prevalence of past-year alcohol use disorder (AUD) with and without concurrent past-year opioid and/or benzodiazepine misuse. METHODS: The present study utilized responses from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) public dataset between the years 2015-2019 (N = 16,002) to examine the association between sexual orientation and concurrent misuse of opioids and/or benzodiazepines among individuals with past-year AUD, stratified by sex. RESULTS: Bisexual females demonstrated higher rates of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use compared to all other groups. Although there was no association between sexual orientation and concurrent substance use patterns among males, female respondents with past-year AUD endorsing past-year misuse of opioids and benzodiazepines, both alone and in combination, were more likely to be bisexual compared to heterosexual. Lesbians were less likely to endorse concurrent misuse of opioids and benzodiazepines compared to bisexual females. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In a national sample, bisexual females demonstrated higher odds of risky concurrent substance use patterns. Identifying sexual minority individuals who exhibit elevated risk of co-occurring alcohol, opioid, and/or benzodiazepine misuse is an important step to targeted prevention efforts and allocation of resources to combat rising overdose deaths. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: For the first time, this study explored risky concurrent alcohol, opioid, and benzodiazepine misuse patterns among individuals of different sexual orientations.
Authors: David Frank; Pedro Mateu-Gelabert; Honoria Guarino; Alex Bennett; Travis Wendel; Lauren Jessell; Anastasia Teper Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2014-07-31
Authors: Michael P Marshal; Mark S Friedman; Ron Stall; Kevin M King; Jonathan Miles; Melanie A Gold; Oscar G Bukstein; Jennifer Q Morse Journal: Addiction Date: 2008-04 Impact factor: 6.526