Gscene News Archive

New research into drug and alcohol use by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people living in Brighton & Hove has been published by the University of Brighton and Spectrum as part of the Count Me In Too Project.

It reveals that LGBT people are more likely to take recreational drugs than the general population. However, as the research notes, the most common types of drugs taken by LGBT people are not those targeted for intervention by drug services.

Despite revealing similar levels of binge, hazardous and harmful drinking as the general population, the research showed that LGBT people were concerned about their alcohol use. The majority of those who drank alcohol did not know where to find support if they needed it.

The findings underline the importance of the LGBT commercial scene in the social lives and networks for LGBT people. Yet they also point to the lack of safe, alcohol-free social and networking spaces, particularly for isolated and excluded members of the LGBT communities.

Last year, the government’s new ten-year drug strategy called for specific research into patterns of drug use and service needs among LGBT populations to inform future policy and service provision.

Andrew Kilkerr from the National Treatment Agency at the Government Office South East called the report.
“An example of good practice, enabling commissioners and providers to review current provision and to ensure they meet the needs of the local LGBT community.

“This report provides unparalleled evidence upon which to base co-ordinated action between sectors and agencies to respond to LGBT-specific needs,” said Arthur Law from Spectrum LGBT Community Forum, community partners to the project.

“It makes a necessary contribution to local agendas for tackling social exclusion, health inequalities and crime. City commissioners have undertaken to respond to the findings in future strategic planning.”

Lead researcher on the project Dr Kath Browne said:
“We found that within the LGBT community alcohol is tied up with social networking, which means that if you don’t drink it is difficult to engage with the LGBT scene.

"We also found that a large number of respondents were concerned about their alcohol use, but were not accessing services. Therefore one of the key recommendations from the report is to better target health promotion campaigns to this community.”

The Count Me in Too Project is a community university partnership between the University of Brighton and Spectrum LGBT Community Forum. Throughout the project, the research team worked with statutory, voluntary and community stakeholders to ensure that all the findings inform mainstream service and strategy development and ongoing community engagement with LGBT people.

The report can be downloaded from:
www.countmeintoo.co.uk/downloads