News

Lottery Win for LGB Community

Published: 31 October 2008

Part of the Picture - National LGB Drug & Alcohol Database

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation in partnership with The International School for Communities, Rights and Inclusion at the University of Central Lancashire have secured funding to carry out England's first ever research into drug and alcohol use among lesbian, gay and bisexual communities.

The project will take place over the next five years and will consist of a confidential survey to find out the levels of drug and alcohol use among our diverse lesbian, gay and bisexual communities. Over the course of the project Pride events across the country will be attended to begin to talk to people about their drug and alcohol use.

It is envisaged that this research will shape the future provision of drug and alcohol services to ensure that they are inclusive of the needs of LGB people, as well as developing a national evidence database of drug and alcohol usage amongst LGB communities.

It is known that the most common mix of drug use amongst the LGB community involves ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamine, poppers and cannabis. It is also widely known that most people are not aware of the dangers involved in mixing their drugs.

Key findings from research carried out at Manchester Pride in 2007 by the LGF and UCLAN partnership, which involved 431 LGB people found that:

• 95% of people had used alcohol in the last four weeks
• 35% reported being dependent on drugs or alcohol
• 29% reported some problems with drugs or alcohol

Chief Executive of the Lesbian and Gay Foundation Paul Martin said:

"The LGF is delighted to be able to have secured funding for this vital project. The research that we have already carried out indicates high rates of substance misuse amongst our communities. There is clearly a need for much more to be done to support both individuals and agencies in their understanding of how substance misuse affects our lives. We also need to help mainstream providers develop gay affirmative services. We are particularly pleased to carry on our partnership work with the University of Central Lancashire and look forward to developing closer links with other LGB agencies across England."

This research is being funded by the Big Lottery Fund's Big Research Programme.
For further information on this initiative please contact: Helen Burdett, LGF's Substance Misuse Co-ordinator. E-mail: Helen.burdett@lgf.org.uk
Tel: 0161 235 8020.

 

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