Substance Abuse Among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Adolescents

Recent studies have indicated that substance abuse is a growing problem among youth and that the problem is even greater among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. The origins of substance abuse in sexual minority teens may be linked with feeling marginalized by society, seeking relief for feelings of depression and isolation, or desiring alleviation of the chronic stress associated with being stigmatized both interpersonally and intrapersonally. Prevention and intervention efforts can be successful in working with sexual minority adolescents in jeopardy of developing substance abuse problems. School-based clubs or groups for sexual minority youth are one effective mode of prevention. School psychologists are uniquely poised to address this problem through education, prevention, and intervention efforts.