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Engaging with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Service Users. Monty Moncrieff Antidote. Research Sources. Drug misuse amongst people from the lesbian, gay and bisexual community www.drugs.gov.uk (2003)
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Engaging with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Service Users Monty Moncrieff Antidote
Research Sources • Drug misuse amongst people from the lesbian, gay and bisexual community www.drugs.gov.uk (2003) • Wasted Opportunities – Problematic Drug & Alcohol Use Amongst Gay & Bisexual Men www.sigmaresearch.org.uk (2009) • Statistics on Alcohol - England 2008 - NHS Information Centrewww.ic.nhs.uk
The LGBT Alcohol Strategy • Not explicit in national strategy (alcohol or drugs) • Sexual orientation not compulsorily monitored • Norm of binary gender identity (only male or female options) • Policy does not identify patterns of use or social contexts reflective of LGBT lifestyles • Few targeted services (and no residential)
The extent of alcohol use in the LGBT community • 92% drink alcohol (72% wider community) • 67% more than weekly (46% wider community) • One-third state concern over use/frequency of use • Studies showing consistently higher use by LGBT people • Consistently higher levels of problematic use
Reasons for problematic use • Homophobia • Internalised homophobia & self-identity • Mitigating social unease • Alleviating loneliness & unhappiness • Enabling sexual encounters • Gay norms of alcohol use
Access to services • Inequality of access • Fears of homophobia • Confidentiality • Pathologised, stigmatised, negatively judged • Lack of understanding of LGBT issues • Invisibility • Safety
Making progress • GLADA Strategic Priority 4.1c – Promoting equality of access to alcohol treatment for all Londoners • Explore the need for cross-borough, -sector and pan-London commissioning for certain population groups • Make strategic priority for Joint Action Group • Lobby for national strategic priority
Local change • Actively tackle homophobia – policy, practice, actions • Raise awareness of LGBT issues and lifestyles • Recognition and acceptance of differing LGBT needs • Increased visibility – service users, staff, resources, interventions • Specialist LGBT service provision – own or in partnerships
Contact Details • Antidote 020 7437 4669 • Toni Hogg, David Stuart • antidote@turning-point.co.uk • monty.moncrieff@turning-point.co.uk