Supporting LGBTQ elders with substance use disorders

Research has shown that the rates of Substance Use Disorders among LGBTQ individuals are 3 to 5 times those of their heterosexual, cisgender peers. These statistics hold true across the lifespan and include elevated rates for LGBTQ Elders over age 50, who are especially likely to overuse cannabis, tranquilizers, opiates, and alcohol. These rates reflect the cumulative impact of a lifetime experience of extreme prejudice, the stress of being forced to hide one’s identity for safety, and reasonable responses to living under continual threat of discrimination. This webinar will address the prevalence and underlying reasons for elevated rates of substance use within the population, and offer practical strategies to support older LGBTQ adults who wish to address their substance use.