A Qualitative, Comparative Analysis of Substance Abuse, Treatment Programs in the Gay Community

Substance abuse, addiction, and depression are mental health issues that are not unique to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, however, research shows that these issues are exacerbated for individuals who identify as sexual minorities. Gay and lesbian individuals face bigotry, oppressions, discrimination and other factors that often contribute to a negative self-concept. Various quantitative studies have been conducted on the issue of substance abuse and addiction in the GLBT community, however there is limited qualitative studies devoted to substance abuse with gay and lesbian persons. This study would involve a qualitative investigation of a mental health program in Brookline, Massachusetts, devoted to the care and treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals struggling with chemical dependency, addiction and other mental health illnesses. This investigation will examine the impact that a substance abuse/addiction program specifically for sexual minorities plays in the recovery process, treatment, and relapse prevention of chemical dependency