Opioid Addiction in the LGBTQ Community
Opioid addiction in the LGBTQ community affects thousands of people each year. Despite efforts to curb the problem, the overdose epidemic is still running rampant in the United States.
This page will discuss opioid use and addiction in the LGBTQ community and how treatment can help.
The LGBTQ+ Community & Opioid Use
The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities across the U.S. The LGBTQ community suffers higher rates of behavioral health conditions, including drug use and addiction.1 There are several potential explanations for this.
LGBTQ individuals often face a number of challenges their heterosexual are less likely to experience. These challenges may include:
- Being stigmatized or discriminated against.
- Emotional abuse, bullying, hate crimes or ridicule.
- Rejection from family or friends.
Stress inducing challenges like the ones listed above can take a toll, potentially leading someone to misuse drugs as a coping mechanism.
Addiction also often co-occurs with other mental health disorders. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are more than twice as likely to experience mental health conditions, while transgender people are 4 times as likely.2
The Dangers Of Opioid Drugs
Opioids cause a powerful dopamine release in the pleasure centers of the brain. The dopamine sends a rush of euphoria throughout the body, which makes the user feel relaxed and happy.
However, taking opioid drugs can also produce harmful effects such as:3
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Slowed breathing
Using opioids can slow breathing, which means less oxygen reaches the brain. The lack of oxygen in the brain can cause short- or long-term damage to the brain, and it can even lead to a coma or death.3
What Can You Do About Opioid Addiction?
Medication-assisted therapy, combined with behavioral health interventions and counseling are treatment options that can help LGBTQ people with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Cognitive behavioral therapy has also improved the treatment outcomes of those suffering from trauma-based stress disorders.
Many LGBTQ+ patients benefit from joining a specialized treatment program that is designed with their unique needs in mind, surrounded by their peers.
If you or a loved one suffer from opioid addiction, contact the admission navigators at American Addiction Centers (AAC). The specialists working in our rehab facilities will customize your addiction therapy and tailor it to your individual needs.
Call to begin treatment and start living a rewarding life without opioid drugs today. You can also verify your insurance coverage online.
