In 2014, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published a study on the number of minorities currently using drugs. The results were as follows: Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders,15.6 percent. American Indians and Alaska Natives, 14.9 percent. African Americans, 12.4 percent. Hispanics, 8.9 percent. Asian Americans, 4.1 percent. The national average was 10.2 percent. The statistics aren’t promising for treatment, either. African Americans and Hispanics are 3.5–8.1 percent less likely than whites to complete treatment for alcohol and drugs, and Native Americans were 4.7 percentage points less likely.
Why are minorities more prone to addiction? The reasons for substance abuse and the lack of treatment sought by minorities are much the same. There tend to be more minorities in poorer areas, where substance abuse is often a result of peer pressure or lack of positive recreational options. Similarly, treatment centers might not be affordable or accessible.
It isn’t only ethnic minorities that fall outside the average. A sometimes overlooked population at risk for addiction is the LGBT(lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, LGBT patients have higher rates of substance abuse and lower levels of abstinence, as well as a greater likelihood to continue heavy drinking for a longer period of time.
One of the reasons for this may be stress. Sexual minorities, like any other, are subjected to a certain amount of prejudice in everyday life, but LGBT people also face a greater risk of harassment, discrimination, or even violence. The question of how or whether to come out to those around you can be especially stressful. Anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation can lead someone to self-medicate.
One study found that LGBT people were more than twice as likely as heterosexual adults (39.1 percent versus 17.1 percent) to have used any illicit drug. Nearly a third of sexual minority adults used marijuana, compared to 12.9 percent of heterosexual adults, and about 1 in 10 (10.4 percent) misused prescription pain relievers, compared to 4.5 percent of heterosexual adults.
LGBT people are also more likely to have psychiatric disorders, which need to be treated alongside addiction. Anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders are all common.
In addition to traditional therapy, LGBT individuals may benefit from learning healthy ways to respond to homophobia and discrimination. This might include building relationships with family and friends, finding support from an LGBT-inclusive group, and finding help in coming out to the public.
For anyone in an environment that enables substance abuse or produces unhealthy emotions that led to using, residential treatment might be the answer. If you can’t speak to your friends or family, or if everyone around you is also using drugs, it may be wise to remove yourself from that situation so you can focus on recovery without distractions.
If you or a loved one need help to quit drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
