Recovery is a challenging process, but for members of the LGBTQ+ community who  have unique  needs, this process can become even more complex. Healthcare workers aren’t always prepared to take care of LGBTQ+ individuals. Unfortunately, if the treatment doesn’t meet their needs, LGBTQ+ people in recovery can struggle.  

Being a part of a peer support program can help alleviate some of that pain by connecting LGBTQ+ to members of their own community with similar experiences. In LGBTQ+ addiction support groups, LGBTQ+ people are better able to find the care they need. Whether through an in-person meeting or an online support group, LGBTQ+ friendly addiction support helps LGBTQ+ recover. In this post, let’s discuss how.  

What is Peer Support?

Peer support refers to when people who share similar experiences such as mental health conditions or substance use disorders support each other in their recoveries. Because a peer support member’s lived experience reflects what a person in recovery is going through, they are able to offer acceptance, understanding, and validation. Peer support workers can also break down barriers of experience and understanding, as well as power dynamics that can get in the way of treatment.

Studies have found that peer support increases self-esteem, confidence, and a person’s sense of control and ability to bring about change in their life. It also increases a person’s sense that their treatment adequately meets their needs. In addition, peer support is associated with a decrease in substance use and depression and an increase in hope, inspiration, empathy, and acceptance.

How Does Being LGBTQ+ Impact Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder?

LGBTQ+ people are a historically underrepresented group that faces significant stigma and discrimination. This discrimination can manifest in many different ways, including exclusionary government policy, social rejection from family and friends, peer victimization, and isolation. LGBTQ+ individuals also experience hate crimes, harassment, or interpersonal violence. On top of that, they are often barred from accessing high quality healthcare, housing, and employment. For example, an estimated 20-40% of the 1.6 million youth that run away from home are LGBTQ+, placing them in high-risk environments for substance use. 

Compared to 9% of the general population, an estimated 30% of LGBTQ+ individuals suffer from some form of substance use disorder. In addition, they are statistically at a higher risk of developing substance use disorder than those who identify as heterosexual. Compounding this fact, LGBTQ+ people with substance use disorder are more likely to have a co-occuring psychiatric disorder, with depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, low-self esteem, and anxiety all being common.

How Can Peer Support Help?

Under our current healthcare system, it can be difficult for LGBTQ+ individuals to receive quality care due to stigma, lack of awareness on the part of healthcare providers, and insensitivity to their needs. In addition, they may struggle to disclose their identity to a healthcare clinician, making it difficult to bond.

These struggles are why peer support is so important for LGBTQ+ people. Finding a peer support group enables an LGBTQ+ person struggling with substance use disorder to get free support from others with a similar experience. Organizations such as the Trevor Project can help struggling LGBTQ+ people connect with a community and find peer support. Connecting to these peer support communities can be as simple as finding a list of local organizations where people can find the help they might need.

It has been found that LGBTQ+ individuals in supportive environments have higher resilience. That’s why it’s so important for LGBTQ+ people in recovery to find peer groups facilitated by members of the community who have personal experience in the subject. Treatment that is able to directly address the problems that LGBTQ+ people face will always be more effective.

Find Your Support with Never Alone Recovery

While LGBTQ+ people in recovery might feel neglected by their treatment, this doesn’t have to be the case. The inclusion of peer support in recovery programs can contribute to an LGBTQ+ patient’s sense of resilience, allowing them to better meet the challenges ahead. By connecting them with their own communities, LGBTQ+ addiction support groups help people recover.

However, some of us may still need help finding that supportive community. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, then Never Alone Recovery can help. An Indiana rehab offering online support groups and addiction recovery consultants, we have the resources to connect you with necessary support. Call us today at 844 422 2311 to learn about our Never Alone programs and find the insurance-approved rehab you need.