Why Attend an LGBTQ Specialized Treatment Program?

Addiction affects people from all different demographics and communities. While addiction treatment has come a long way in terms of evidence-based techniques that many different people find successful, one of the things researchers have come to understand is how important individualized care is in treating substance use disorder. Rehab is most effective when it is tailored to the individual, taking into account someone’s mental and physical health, trauma, history with addiction or mental illness, etc. 

But while addiction and treatment is highly individualized, it also helps tremendously to receive treatment in an environment surrounded by peers that share some of the same experiences. That’s why River Oaks Treatment Center and an increasing number of other facilities offer specialized tracks for a variety of demographics. 

Why Choose an LGBTQ Specialized Program? 

Addiction treatment is typically performed in phases: After medical detoxification, where a patient is safely monitored as they withdraw from substances, they undergo rehabilitation, which predominantly involves various methods of therapy to re-wire thought patterns that lead them to drink or use drugs compulsively. Finally, they’ll transfer out of the treatment program into aftercare. 

While in rehabilitation, a large part of treatment is group therapy. Some of the things that are shared in these sessions are deeply personal and it’s important that patients feel comfortable surrounded by people that can empathize and understand their experiences.  

There’s evidence to prove that people of the LGBTQ community fare better in addiction recovery when they are among their peers: 

• Homosexual and bisexual men have better success in specialized addiction treatment programs. Cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing appear to be especially effective among members of this population.  
• While more research must be done on addiction treatment in the transgender community, research has shown transgender people tend to seek out treatment for substance use disorder at a higher rate than the cisgender population.  
• Unfortunately, research on substance use treatment for lesbian and bisexual women is also lacking, though some research shows they are more likely to seek treatment for alcohol or drug problems than heterosexual women. 

Sadly, access to specialized LGBTQ rehab programs is limited: only an estimated 7.4% of rehab programs offer these types of specialized programs, which is especially disturbing considering the high rate of substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric problems among homosexual, bisexual, and transgender populations. Research shows that addiction treatment is more effective when any co-occurring disorders are treated simultaneously. 

Treatment at River Oaks 

The staff at River Oaks Treatment Center undergoes training to understand and empathize with LGBTQ clients. The facility also works hard to ensure the client’s aftercare needs are met, even when a patient lacks a supportive home environment. 

If you or a loved one is considering addiction treatment, please reach out to an admissions navigator at . American Addiction Centers (AAC) admissions navigators can answer questions and provide more information regarding AAC facilities.