Join us on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 7 pm!

Why is the LGBTQIA+ community at a greater risk for Substance Use Disorder? Adults defined as “sexual minorities” are more than twice as likely as heterosexual adults to have used any illicit drug.¹ Social stigma, discrimination, and other challenges can lead to stress and treatment barriers that put this population at risk for addiction and other behavioral health challenges.

On June 14, 2023 we had a conversation with treatment specialists and those with lived experience to increase our awareness and understanding, and to explore treatment options and learn how we can support recovery. Thank you to our presenters:  Jordan Pearce, MA, LAC, NCC (they/them), Liv Houser, MA (she/her) and Matt (he/him).

¹Medley G, Lipari R, Bose J, Cribb D, Kroutil L, McHenry G. Sexual Orientation and Estimates of Adult Substance Use and Mental Health: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. NSDUH Data Review. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/se…. Published October 2016.

Meet the Presenters & Panelists who have spoken on our LGBTQIA+ programs.

Joseph Charette, PhD, LPC (he/him)

Assistant Professor
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Department of Counseling

Ley Cray, PhD (she/they)

Director of LGBTQIA+ Programming
Charlie Health

Dr. Caroline Fenkel, LCSW (she/her)

Chief Clinical Officer & Co-Founder
Charlie Health

Katie Greeley, LCSW (she/her)

Founder and Senior Prevention Consultant
Prevention Education Solutions

Liv Houser, MA (she/her)

Outpatient Therapist
Ethos Treatment, LLC

Tom McDermitt, BA, AACII (he/him)

Regional Resource Director
Caron Treatment Centers, Pennsylvania

Jordan Pearce, MA, LAC, NCC (they/them)

Associate Therapist
Center for Growth

Kayte Roberts, LMFT (she/her)

Psychotherapist

Kara Schwartz (she/her)

Communications Manager
Be a Part of the Conversation

Helpful Resources

  The Trevor ProjectPride Institute

  LGBTQ Groups in Philadelphia

  Coming Out: A Handbook for LGBTQ Young People

  Parenting a Gender-Diverse Child: Hard Questions Answered

  Gender-Diverse & Transgender Children

Pennsylvania Society of Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Communities (PS-SAIGE)

  The Flying Gender Unicorn

LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County

Eastern PA Trans Equity Project

  Stand With Trans

  SAGA Community Center

  Philadelphia Family Pride

  The Attic Youth Center

  William Way LGBT Community Center

  PFLAG – Family and Ally Organization.

  LGBTQIA+ Glossary of Terms

  Crystal Meth Anonymous

  Crystal City is a documentary available on Amazon Prime. Please be advised that there are graphic scenes which could be triggering for people in recovery. 

Treatment Resources

CharlieHealth

Polaris Teen Center

  Visions Adolescent Treatment Center

  Center for Families

  Newport Academy

  Ethos Treatment, LLC

  Sanare Today

  Caron’s LGBTQ Affirming Services Center

  Inspire Better Life

Research

  Substance Use Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Adolescents in the United States, 2015

   Sexual orientation and adolescent substance use: a meta-analysis and methodological review

   The Relationship Between Discrimination and Substance Use Disorders Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in the United States

   Sexual Orientation and Estimates of Adult Substance Use and Mental Health: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Following up on the June 21, 2022 Program

21% of GenZ’ers (10 to 25 year olds) identify as LGBTQIA+, indicating a positive shift in societal norms.

However, social stigma, discrimination, and other challenges still exist, and can lead to stress and treatment barriers that put this population at risk for addiction and other behavioral health challenges.

On June 21, 2022, Be a Part of the Conversation hosted a panel of treatment specialists and those with lived experience to increase our awareness and understanding, and to explore treatment options and learn how we can foster resilience and support recovery.

This program was funded by the Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services.

Lesbian • Gay • Bisexual • Transgender • Queer • 2-Spirit • Intersex • Asexual

Following Up  | June 23, 2020 Online Program

Recorded on Tuesday, June 23, 2020:  Our panel talked about the increased risk for substance use disorders among the LGBTQ2IA+ population.

↓ Watch the Recorded Webinar ↓