Examining sexual minority engagement in recovery community centers

Lauren B Bernier; Jacklyn D Foley; Anna C Salomaa; Jillian R Scheer; John Kelly; Bettina Hoeppner; Abigail W Batchelder

doi:10.1016/j.josat.2024.209340

Examining sexual minority engagement in recovery community centers

J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2024 Jun:161:209340. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209340. Epub 2024 Mar 15.

Authors

Lauren B Bernier¹, Jacklyn D Foley², Anna C Salomaa³, Jillian R Scheer⁴, John Kelly⁵, Bettina Hoeppner¹, Abigail W Batchelder⁶

Affiliations

¹ Behavioral Medicine Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
² Behavioral Medicine Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Syracuse University, New York, USA.
⁵ Behavioral Medicine Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
⁶ Behavioral Medicine Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: abatchelder@mgh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 38494052
DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209340

Abstract

Introduction: Research indicates that sexual minority (SM) individuals with alcohol and other drug use disorders may underutilize recovery resources generally but be more likely to use recovery community centers (RCCs). To inform recovery supports, this study characterized SM and heterosexual RCC members by demographics and clinical and recovery support service utilization.

Methods: Cross-sectional secondary analyses compared SM and heterosexual RCC members in the northeastern U.S. (n = 337). Qualitative analyses coded the top three recovery facilitators.

Results: Of the 337 participants (Mean_age[SD] = 40.98[12.38], 51.8 % female), SM RCC members were more likely than heterosexuals to endorse lifetime psychiatric diagnoses and emergency department mental health treatment (p < .01). RCC service utilization and qualitatively derived recovery facilitators were mostly consistent across groups.

Conclusions: RCCs engaged SM individuals in recovery in ways consistent with heterosexuals. Despite otherwise vastly similar demographic characteristics across sexual identity, findings suggest a need for additional mental health resources for SM individuals in recovery.

Keywords: LGBTQIA+; Recovery; Recovery community center; Sexual minority; Substance use.

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Heterosexuality* / psychology
Heterosexuality* / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders / epidemiology
Mental Disorders / psychology
Mental Disorders / therapy
Middle Aged
New England
Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology
Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
Sexual and Gender Minorities* / psychology
Sexual and Gender Minorities* / statistics & numerical data
Substance-Related Disorders* / epidemiology
Substance-Related Disorders* / psychology

Grants and funding

K01 AA028239/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States