Analysis finds LGBT youth at greater risk of substance use

An analysis of 2015 data finds that youths identifying as gay, lesbian or bisexual are at an increased risk of using alcohol, marijuana and nicotine. They also were found to be at higher risk of polysubstance use, according to the study.

Researchers at Oregon State University analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, the first of these CDC surveys to ask participants a question about sexual identity. The analysis, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, found that youths identifying as gay, lesbian or bisexual were more likely than heterosexual youths to be using alcohol, marijuana or nicotine.

Among the sexual minority youth population, bisexual youths were at greatest risk of polysubstance use, the study found. Researchers said that additional studies are needed to identify the factors that might explain why sexual minority youths face a higher risk of substance use.

“The findings suggest that it may be good practice for health care providers who serve these youth to do assessments for substance use as part of regular health screenings,” Sarah Dermody, an assistant professor at Oregon State's School of Psychological Science, said in a news release.