Affiliation:
1. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society La Trobe University Melbourne Australia
2. Kirby Institute UNSW Sydney Sydney Australia
3. Faculty of Health and Life Sciences University of Exeter Exeter United Kingdom
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionPrevalence and patterns of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use among specific lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (trans) and queer (LGBTQ+) subpopulations are well established. However, patterns of substance‐related risk have been less thoroughly explored. This study aimed to determine typologies AOD risk among LGBTQ+ adults in Australia.MethodLatent class analyses were performed to determine distinct patterns of AOD risk (n = 6835), as measured by the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test and Drug Abuse Screening Tool. Demographic characteristics, experience of harassment, assault and/or threats, mental wellbeing and LGBTQ+ connectedness were compared across emergent classes.ResultsAOD risk was characterised as ‘no risk’ (13.3% of sample), ‘low risk’ (15.1%), ‘moderate risk’ (alcohol + other drugs; 30.1%), or ‘moderate alcohol only risk’ (41.5%). The ‘moderate risk’ class was the most likely class to report recent sexual assault, verbal abuse, harassment and physical threats compared to other classes, while those in the ‘moderate alcohol only risk’ group were least likely to report these experiences of all classes. However, both the ‘moderate risk’ and ‘moderate alcohol risk only’ classes reported greater mental wellbeing and LGBTQ+ connectedness compared to the ‘no risk’ and ‘low risk’ classes.Discussion and ConclusionsOur findings indicate that level of AOD risk is not uniform among some LGBTQ+ adults, nor is the distribution of harms experienced by them. Tailored harm‐reduction interventions may be fruitful in attenuating harms based on risk profile; most specifically, LGBTQ+ individuals engaging in moderately risky concurrent AOD use.
Funder
Department of Health, State Government of Victoria
Department of Premier and Cabinet, State Government of Victoria
Cited by
1 articles.
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