Gay Addiction Treatment
Gay Addiction Treatment vs. Heterosexual Addiction Treatment
By Jonathan Huttner
With specialized addiction treatment programs available for women, people addicted to specific drugs, and other substance abuse populations, it makes sense to have gay addiction treatment programs to meet the needs of the GBLT community.
By addressing the special concerns of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population, gay-friendly addiction treatment centers can ensure that all patients are treated with dignity and respect. These addiction treatment centers are staffed with caring doctors, nurses and therapists who understand the issues of the GBLT community. Staff provides the same level of alcohol or drug addiction treatment as a typical "heterosexual" addiction treatment center, while offering a place where patients can feel comfortable with their sexuality. This type of supportive environment gives patients the opportunity to share their feelings and secrets without fear of humiliation or judgment.
Gay-Friendly Addiction Treatment Offers "Real-World" Interaction
Gay-friendly addiction treatment centers should, as all effective treatment centers should, treat the "whole person," not any person’s particular sexual preference. Through individual and family therapy, recreation and art therapy, cognitive therapy, and aftercare programs, patients can feed their mind, body and spirit.
Generally speaking, in these centers the GBLT patients are not entirely separated. This is because addiction treatment needs to resemble the real world in order to be effective. Programs should include interaction with the heterosexual population, as well as offer special "gay only" recovery groups where patients can talk about their issues in a safe, accepting setting. These GBLT recovery groups are just a component of an overall integrated program designed to help all patients achieve long-term recovery.
For more information on gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender addiction treatment programs, call the national addiction helpline at 1-800-820-5841. You may also call Freedom Rings, the LGBT treatment component of Lakeview Health Systems, at 1-800-231-1820 or visit them at www.Gay-Rehab.com. All calls are confidential and help is available 24 hours a day.
