Gay Alcoholism

Gay and Lesbian Alcoholism - An Epidemic

By Jonathan Huttner

Gay alcoholism is becoming a real issue. Perhaps it is due to the fact that being a gay man or lesbian in this country is not easy. It's meant facing alienation, isolation, and oppression. Mix in those stresses with some homophobia linked fears of AIDS, and it's no wonder many gays and lesbians are reaching for alcohol as a "solution."

Research has demonstrated that gay and lesbian alcoholism is a real concern. At least two million gay men and lesbian women abuse alcohol and as many as 30 percent will need drug addiction treatment at some point in their lives. That is three times the odds facing the general population. It is clear that gay and lesbian alcoholism as well as drug addiction issues are critical problems within the gay population. The good news is that there is now specific help for these groups. Gay drug rehab programs, gay alcohol rehab programs and gay relapse prevention programs have opened up throughout the country.

Social Life and Gay Alcoholism

Much of the lifestyle associated with gay life contributes to the high rate of gay/lesbian alcoholism and gay/lesbian drug addiction. But the most significant factor remains the fear and hatred focused on gay people. Needless to say, society has never approved of same-sex romance. It's a simple fact that gay bars or the gay club scene are the focus of most social activities. While addiction treatment and drug rehab professionals differ on the degree bars actually have on the high rate of alcoholism among gays, no one denies the importance of bars in gay social life. The hard truth is that regardless of what contributes to gay alcoholism, treatment is necessary.

Gay Alcohol Rehab Options and the Family

There are a variety of rehab treatment options for gay and lesbian individuals, but what's available in your particular area depends very much on where you live. For this reason addiction treatment and alcohol rehab help lines have been established to assist those looking for gay friendly addiction treatment. Some addiction treatment programs are run by gays, while others have gay or lesbian counselors on staff, and still others train straight counselors in helping gay clients.

In the past, gay men and lesbians occasionally encountered problems when seeking alcohol treatment at some alcohol rehab programs. In many cases, counselors were not fully sympathetic to, or even knowledgeable about, being gay. Some would even go so far as attempting to "cure" a client's homosexuality, falsely believing that their gayness was the root of their excessive use of alcohol. Today the situation has improved tremendously. Most gay addiction treatment programs or gay alcohol rehab programs have specific components for the gay/lesbian population, with staff trained to meet their needs. Most of the gay drug rehab programs and gay alcohol rehabs even offer family recovery weeks to include a client's lover. As a matter of fact, if a drug rehab or alcohol rehab doesn’t have this type of family recovery program, find one that does.

If you are looking for a gay friendly alcohol or drug addiction treatment program, you can find one by going to by going to a website called www.Gay-Rehab.com.