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from Medical Issues
Study Surveys Substance Abuse
In College Students
October 24, 2005 - A recent
study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol (September 1, 2005)
describes the relationship between a person's sexual orientation and the abuse
of drugs and alcohol.
"Assessment of difference in dimensions of sexual orientation: implications for
substance abuse research in a college-age population," by Carol J. Boyd, found
that "'non-heterosexual' identity, attraction or behavior was associated with
a more pronounced and consistent risk of substance abuse in women than in men."
The study surveyed the sexual orientations, sexual behaviors, and sexual
identities of 9,161 college age students. The study used the Student Life Survey
in an online project.
Here is a sampling of the research results:
- Women attracted mostly to women were more likely to report smoking
cigarettes and using marijuana, opioid analgesics and other illicit drugs.
- Bisexual men were significantly less likely than only heterosexual men to
report heavy episodic drinking in the past 2 weeks.
- Mostly homosexual men
had higher odds than the only heterosexual men on each of the four
illicit-drug-use measures.
- Men attracted to both men and women were nearly
three times as likely to report use of other illicit drugs in the past year.
- Men attracted to only men were approximately two times as likely as those
attracted to only women to report past month marijuana use.
Additional Reading: Research Studies Show High Rates Of Gay Emotional/Relational Instability.
Updated: 28 February 2008
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