Are gay people more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, perhaps due to the discrimination they face? Anon.
Drug and alcohol abuse are so common in our society that I think it would be a mistake to state with certainty that one group or another suffers more from abuse for whatever reasons.
There have certainly been cases of conflicted, self-hating gay people who drink to excess or use drugs to deal -- or rather not deal -- with their denial, doubt and torment over their sexuality.
But we have to remember two things:
Straight people also abuse drugs and alcohol, and it's unlikely that conflicts over their sexuality are responsible [although aging and the sometimes corresponding loss of potency or attraction to the opposite sex may play a part]. Likewise, gay people may abuse drugs or alcohol for reasons that are entirely unrelated to their sexual orientation: romantic problems; career or financial issues; disappointments in life -- the usual things that plague most people, who -- as Thoreau put it -- lead "lives of quiet desperation."
In any case, I think it's safe to say that the well-adjusted, Out and Proud members of the Gay community are much less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol for reasons related to their sexuality.
2 comments:
hello Dr. Bill, i wanted to ask about my boyfriend we love each other so much we've been together for 3 years and then he met a friend thats not straight and they spend most of the time together. his friend goes to his house and my boyfriend isnt even bothered im really scared i dont know what to do should i ask him?
You might find my post entitled "Asking Your Boyfriend If He's Gay" helpful.http://askgaydrbill.blogspot.com/2010/03/asking-your-boyfriend-if-hes-gay.html
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