Discrimination against transgendered individuals can make their access to health services highly problematic. More specifically, substance use treatment programs may not be sensitive to transgendered individuals who have drug use problems. Because of this, the needs of transgendered individuals may go unmet. As indicated in a resolution recently passed by the American Public Health Association (March, 2000), a knowledge base must be built to aid substance use service providers in developing policies to increase their effectiveness when working with transgendered men and women. This study will examine (a) factors that influence transgendered men and women's substance use, (b) problems that may hinder their access to substance use treatment, (c) and problems they may face within such programs. I will distribute confidential, self-administered questionnaires to transgendered men and women in Los Angeles and San Francisco (two areas with large concentrations of transgendered men and women). The recruitment strategy will utilize outreach and treatment organizations serving transgendered individuals, advertising in local newspapers and magazines, and respondent driven sampling. The chief analytic task is to examine relationships between people's experiences of discrimination and physical/verbal abuse due to being transgendered, their experience in substance use treatment and other health services, and their substance use history. As this is an exploratory study, much of the analysis will be bivariate. This study will begin receiving federal funding (NIDA R03) March, 2001 and will have preliminary data to present in October.
Learning Objectives: Have a better understanding what transgender is. Understand the problems transgendered men and women experience in substance use treatment. Understand what can help transgendered men and women be successful in their recovery.
Keywords: , Substance Abuse Treatment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.