The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64587

Laurie A. Drabble, PhD, MSW, MPH, College of Social Work, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0257, (408) 924-5836, ladrabble@aol.com, Lorraine T. Midanik, PhD, School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley, 120 Haviland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-7400, and Karen F. Trocki, PHD, Alcohol Research Group, Public Health ALcohol Research Group, Berkeley, CA, 2000 Hearst Ave., Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709.

Previous studies, often based on purposive samples, suggest that use of tobacco and illicit drugs may be higher among homosexual and bisexual populations compared to heterosexual populations. The purpose of this study is to compare rates of drug use, tobacco use, and combined alcohol and tobacco use among bisexual, homosexual and heterosexual respondents to the 2000 National Alcohol Survey. Of the 7216 respondents who answered specific behavioral and identity items, 127 (1.8%) were classified as bisexual, 141 (1.9%) as homosexual, and 6947 (96.3%) as heterosexual. Between group differences were generally significant among women but not among men. Illicit drug use (excluding marijuana) was highest among bisexual women (33.9%) compared to heterosexual women (19.0%) and lesbians (9.0%). Marijuana use was also high among bisexual women compared with other women. Bisexual women were also significantly more likely to be regular smokers (60%) than heterosexuals (22.3%) or lesbians (27.2%). Tobacco use combined with alcohol use was highest among bisexuals (56.3%) followed by lesbians (17.3%) and heterosexuals (14.8%). Lesbians were most likely to report having received treatment from a chemical dependency or substance abuse program (9.9%) compared to bisexual women (7.7%) and heterosexuals. These findings confirm previous research that women who have sex with women are more likely to use illicit drugs and tobacco. These findings also suggest that drug, tobacco, and combined tobacco and alcohol consumption is particularly high among bisexual women.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Describe differences and similarities in illicit drug use, tobacco use, and combined alcohol and tobacco use between lesbian, gay, and bisexual respondents in the 2000 National Alcohol Survey.
• Discuss implications for prevention of tobacco, alcohol and other drug problems in sexual minority communities.

Keywords: Substance Abuse, Gay

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.