SubstanceAbuseProblemsintheLGBTCommunitySexualorientationminoritypopulationsreporthigherratesofdruguseandrelatedproblems(Grellaetal,2009).Manystudiesthatdemonstratethisresulthaveusedconveniencesampling,wheresubjectsaredrawnfromgaybarsandprideparadeswhereagreatdealofcelebrationanddrinkingispresent,sothisfindingmaynotbeaccurate.Possiblereasonsforabuse:Internalizedhomophobia:onestudyshowedasmalltomoderatecorrelation(Brubakeretal,2002).HeterosexismHarassmentandintoleranceShameFamilyrejectionGaybarsasacenterforsociallifeAcceptabilityofusewithinthecommunityOtherReasonsLowself-esteemLonelinessLesssocietalsupportforselfandrelationshipsDepressionandanxietyLackoftraditionalsocialrolesthatslowdrinkingandsubstanceabuse.StudiesshowthatSAismoderatedbymarriage,employment,andchildren(Hughes&Eliason,2002).FewerLGBTshavechildren,commitmentunionsarenotassupportedbysociety,andemploymentdiscriminationisrampant(Hughes&Eliason,2002).GoodNewsforLGBTsSubstanceuseamonglesbiansandgaymen—particularlyalcoholuse—hasdeclinedoverthepasttwodecades(Hughes&Eliason,2002).LGBTsaremorelikelytoseektreatmentandhelpforabuseandaddictionproblemsasopposedtotheirheterosexualcounterparts(Stahletal,2001).RaceandEthnicityWhitemenandwomenaremorelikelythantheirnonwhitecounterpartstoreportuseofalmostalllicitandillicitdrugs.Blacksreportlowerratesofcurrent,binge,andheavyalcoholuseandlifetimeillicitdrugusethandoWhites.Inrecentyears,however,Blackshavereportedslightlyhigherratesofcurrentillicitdruguse(9.7%vs.8.1%).Blacksalsoexperiencemorefrequentandmoresevereconsequencesofdrugandalcoholuse,includingpoorerphysicalhealthoutcomesandmoreseveresocialconsequences,suchashigherincarcerationrates.Latinogaymenmayhavehigherratesofdrinkingthaneithergroup(AfricanAmericanorCaucasian)alone.(Harawaetal,2008)SpecialIssuesforLGBTcoupleswithSubstanceAbuseProblemsQuestionstoask:Whatisbothpartners’levelofcomfortbeingLGBTperson?Whatstageofcomingoutaretheybothat?Dobothmembersofthecouplehaveanadequatefamily/support/socialnetwork?Aretheresignificanthealthfactors(eitherresultingfromsubstanceabuseornot)?Underwhichcircumstancesandsituationsdidtheyuse?Arethereconnectionsbetweenthepartners’druguseandsexualidentityorsexualbehavior?Dobothpartnersuse?Haveeitheroftheclientsexperiencedgaybashing?Issame-genderdomesticviolencepresent?WastheclientortheirpartneroutasLGBTinpasttreatmentexperiences?Isanyoftheabovecorrelatedwithperiodsofsobriety?(NIDA,2010)CouplesTherapyforTreatmentofAddictionAmeta-analysisofdrugusertreatmentoutcomesdemonstratedthatnotonlyisfamily-couplestherapymoreeffectivethannotherapy,italsodocumentedthatfamily-couplestherapyismoresuccessfulthan(1)individualcounseling(2)peergrouptherapy,and(3)familypsychoeducation(Stanton&Shadish,1997).Positivetreatmentoutcomesincludebetterrelationshipsatisfactionandreductionsinsubstanceabuse.Note:thisresearchwasdoneonaheterosexualpopulation.Mutualsupport,theacquisitionofbetterproblem-solvingskills,andenhancedcommunicationmaybethereason(illustratedinFig.1)EnhancedRelationshipFunctioningSubstanceAbuseRecoveryProblem-solvingskillsCommunicationSkillsTrainingIncreasedcaringbehaviorsFigure1.‘Virtuouscycleillustratingconcurrenttreatmentforsubstanceuseandrelationshipfunctioning.ContinuingRecoveryPlanRecoveryContractSelf-helpSupportStandardSubstanceAbuseTreatment(Stewartetal,2009)SpecialProblemsforCouplesFacingSubstanceAbuseProblemsSexManypeopleinrecoveryreportsexualproblems(heightenedinhibitionsandanxieties,higherlevelsofdepression,etc.).SomepartnersofLGBTshavingsexualdysfunctioninsobrietymayfeelitistheirfault.Manysubstanceabusingpartnersmayhavehadunprotectedsexorsexwithanotherpartywithouttheirpartnersconsentorknowledge.Thisplacestheirpartneratincreasedriskfordiseaseaswellascreatesdistrustintherelationship.LiesSubstanceaddictedpartnersoftenhavetolietocontinueusingtheirdrugofchoice.ThiscreatesdistrustbetweenpartnersTheaddictseeshispartnerassomeonetohideimportantinformationfrom.Thepartnerseestheaddictassomeonewhosewordtheycannottrust.Addictedpersonsmayhavestolenfromtheirpartnersortheirlovedones.IrresponsibilitySubstanceaddictedpartnersmayhaveahistoryoffailingtoshowupforimportanteventsandappointments,notcominghomeatnight,andfailingtokeepjobsorfinishtasks.Partnersmayfeeltheneedtocompensateorovercompensatefortheiraddictedlovedonesfailings.Theymayfindthemselveslyingfortheiraddictedpartnerormakingjustificationsfortheirsubstanceabuseorirresponsiblebehavior.Partnersendupfeelingjustasisolatedandoutofcontrolastheiraddictcounterparts.AbusePhysical,verbal,andemotionalabusecanbeanissue.Theabusivepartnermayormaynotbetheaddict/alcoholic.Frustratedpartnersofaddictscanresorttoabusewhentheyrunoutofoptionstopreventtheaddictivebehaviors.TheSixS’sforPartner’sAffectedbyAddiction(Ligon,2004)1.Separateyourself,detachfromtheproblem.2.Setlimits,roles,andboundaries.3.Solidifyyourposition,knowwhereyoustand.4.Supportsobriety.5.Simplifyyourapproachbysettingupgoals.6.Sustainyourphysical,mental,andspiritualhealth.SupportGroups