What Barriers to Treatment and Recovery Do LGBT Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder Face in Inpatient Treatment?

The purpose of this study was to discover the barriers to recovery experienced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals in inpatient treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and to provide recommendations to treatment centers for improving the experience of this population. Nine participants were recruited from Philadelphia Gay Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and online support groups for those grappling with alcohol use. Participants were interviewed either in person or via phone, and transcripts were independently coded for themes by two coders who then met for consensus. White gay male participants reported the most positive experiences in treatment, while a black lesbian woman and a white transgender man had negative and/or re-traumatizing experiences. Participants recommended specific actions to treatment centers: 1) Ask patients about their gender and sexual identity 2) Provide LGBT focused meetings 3) Train all staff to be sensitive to LGBT issues 4) Provide non-12 Step treatment models, such as SMART Recovery and Harm Reduction. While this small convenience sample can only provide an impressionistic picture, participants were remarkably unanimous in their recommendations to treatment centers. This could provide actionable intelligence for professionals who serve this population. Presentation: 16:0