Ebook: Interventions for members of the transgender community affected by alcohol and other drugs

Chemical and alcohol dependency affects people from all walks of life, with especially high rates among members of the transgender community. Transgender individuals, like the greater LGBT community, have experienced centuries of severe sociopolitical oppression, and continue to battle the ever-changing tides of local, state, and national policy. We hypothesized that such variable political climates repeat themselves, continuing to influence culture. We understood that transphobia walks hand in hand with conservative denominations of religion, and therefore, that discrimination may be present in chemical and alcohol dependency treatment environments, creating an additional obstacle to navigate for transgender individuals pursuing sobriety. For this qualitative research study, we interviewed 10 gender-divergent individuals who have experienced, or continue to experience, chemical and/or alcohol dependency. Our participants discussed their support systems, involvement in treatment centers and services, and their lived experiences around using drugs and alcohol. The majority of our participants reported experiencing transphobia among staff or attendees in 12-step and other abstinence-based treatment environments. Participants also disclosed they had felt judged in these environments for recent use, and therefore were apprehensive of disclosing use in the future. Participants also reported a majority belief that the harm reduction approach provides a protective layer of positive influence for people who do not wish to completely abstain. Our results are in line with our hypotheses, demonstrating that mainstream support groups for chemical and alcohol dependency may be unwelcoming and ineffective environments for members of transgender community, and furthermore, that the harm reduction approach is regarded as a valid utility. The impact of this study should extend the knowledge base available to researchers, treatment providers, and healthcare professionals, therefore broadening the scope through which such providers are able to serve the community. The results of this study imply that further research would help identify what unseen barriers may exist in treatment environments, therefore assisting the overall goal of helping all people work effectively toward personal life goals that may include reduced use of chemicals and alcohol and potentially, sobriety.