Gay and Lesbian Drug Treatment

In form, drug treatment for gay and lesbian individuals is not significantly different from a Drug Rehab Program for any other kind of addict. Just like anyone else, gay and lesbian men and women need to get professional help, to get through withdrawal and learn to create a life without drugs and alcohol.

The content of a gay and lesbian’s recovery process may be significantly different from that of a “straight” addict, however. Because of larger societal issues and aspects of the gay and lesbian community itself, gays and lesbians have issues specific to their community. For that reason, gays and lesbians may benefit from a treatment program that specifically addresses their unique needs.

The drug addiction process that leads people to treatment for gays and lesbians is not significantly different from the process that gets anyone else into treatment. At The Orchid Recovery Center, there is a clear understanding that when a pre-existing disposition to addiction is combined with enough exposure to drugs and alcohol addiction is created. Just like any other kind of addict seeking treatment and support The Orchid, lesbian women will need to address the physical, social, psychological issues of addiction in a structured setting in order to achieve drug addiction recovery.

Within this structured setting of drug treatment, gay and lesbian individuals do have some specific issues of their own. In the first place, though our society is increasingly tolerant of homosexuality, it is not yet fully accepting of alternative sexual orientations. As a result, many gays and lesbians have lived their life, particularly the early parts, in an environment of disapproval and discrimination. For many of these individuals, this disapproval from society, including one’s own family, has become internalized into a sense of shame and self-hatred. In turn, this shame and self hatred has led to an increased propensity to drink and use drugs that fueled the process of addiction.

The counseling staff at The Orchid (which is exclusively for women) understands that as a part of treatment, lesbian women need to be comfortable speaking about their feelings and to work with professionals who are experienced with these issues. Some women may not be fully comfortable sharing issues of their sexuality in a mixed setting, so a safe area of understanding, sympathetic fellow addicts may be very helpful. Fortunately, this is exactly the kind of environment that is fostered at The Orchid.

Other GLBT Drug Treatment Issues

Another issue that gays and lesbians confront in drug treatment is how they will function in the larger gay and lesbian community after leaving treatment. To a great extent, the gay and lesbian world revolves around bars and other events where alcohol and drugs are present. For many gays and lesbians, the first introduction to the gay and lesbian world took place in a gay bar. For an equally large number, the first sexual experiences were at least facilitated by the consumption of some alcohol to reduce nervousness.

When gays and lesbians leave treatment, they need to learn how to function in their community without taking part in the drinking and drug use going on around them. This is an area where gays and lesbians with a good amount sober time can be of very valuable assistance by simply sharing their experiences and tips.

The Orchid Recovery Center understands the unique needs of lesbian women with drug addiction. By providing a safe, nurturing environment for these women to heal and discovery the root causes of their addiction, The Orchid helps facilitate sobriety and long-term recovery. For more information, contact The Orchid Recovery Center for Women today.

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