GLBT Drug Rehabilitation
The GLBT community has long been beset by wide spread problems with drug addiction. Prejudice, family issues and confusion about one's sexuality have caused gay and lesbian individuals to self-medicate their psychological problems with drugs and alcohol, leading to some very serious substance abuse problems.
While simply getting a GLBT individual into drug treatment would appear, on the surface, to help change their lives for the better, the problem goes deeper than that. Mainstream drug rehabilitation programs may have the best intentions, but may be unable to provide gay and lesbian individuals with the help they need. That is, unless a drug rehabilitation facility is responsive to the needs of the GLBT community and has taken the appropriate steps required to provide effective treatment through specialized counseling sessions, hiring counselors familiar with GLBT issues and creating a safe environment that is free of ignorance or intolerance.
What are the Unique Issues Facing GLBT Drug Addicts?
Men and women from the GLBT community who are in the midst of a drug addiction most likely arrived there for one (or more) of several reasons that are unique to their situation. These reasons include:
- Confusion about sexuality. Growing up confused about one's sexual identity can cause a number of significant psychological issues, including depression, anxiety and alcohol or drug addiction. Many GLBT individuals are ostracized by their families or receive no support from their loved ones. This can cause their confusion to deepen – and their psychological and addiction issues to worsen.
- Lifestyle issues. Many facets of the GLBT lifestyle include drug abuse and heavy partying. Breaking free of these situations, while at the same time trying to overcome drug addiction can be a tremendous challenge.
- Dual diagnosis problems. As mentioned earlier, many gay men and women suffer from depression, bi-polar disorder and other psychological conditions. When these mental illnesses occur at the same time as a drug addiction, it is known as a dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis patients are at a high risk for suicide or relapse and require integrated care that treats all aspects of their condition.
What are the Core Elements of GLBT Drug Rehabilitation?
While there are few drug rehabilitation programs exclusively for members of the gay and lesbian community, many facilities will find unique ways to care for their needs. For example, counseling is one of the most important elements of any drug rehab program, but gay and lesbian individuals need to address issues that are specific to their sexuality and their experiences. As such, many facilities will hold group counseling sessions with only GLBT patient present. These sessions are an opportunity to discuss common experiences and work together to find solutions without worrying about the prejudices of other patients.
Michael's House is located in Palm Springs, California and offers a unique treatment option for members of the GLBT community seeking addiction treatment. The residential drug treatment facility at Michael's House offers luxury accommodations and progressive treatment for all their patients in a warm, caring environment. Contact Michael's House today at for more information.
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