Sexual minority identifiers and their perception of illicit drug use risks in the US: Results from a National Survey.
Journal of psychiatric research July 1, 2024 Yen-Han Lee, Yen-Chang Chang, Mack Shelley et al. 6 citations
Sexual minority adults in the United States—particularly those identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual—are more likely than their heterosexual peers to perceive illicit drug use (LSD, heroin, cocaine) as low risk. Analysis of five waves of a national survey (2015–2019) with over 205,000 participants showed that among men, about 11% viewed illicit drug use as moderate risk and 2% as low risk; among women, about 6% viewed it as moderate risk and 1% as low risk. After accounting for sex, identifying as lesbian/gay or bisexual was associated with higher odds of perceiving low risk compared to heterosexual identification. Prevention strategies should address these disparities.