Sexual identity minorities have been found to report higher rates of substance use putting them at a higher risk for substance use disorder (SUD). The aim of this study was to examine relationships among education status, sex, sexual identity, psychological distress, and substance use in US young adults between the ages of 18-25 years.
The independent variable of the study was sexual identity. Groups of identity included heterosexual women and men, lesbian women, gay men, and bisexual women and men. Participants also reported on education status and highest level of educational attainment. Psychological distress was assessed by asking participants about when they were at their worst emotionally during the last month. Past-year prescription medication use was assessed by asking about prescription opioid use, prescription benzodiazepine use, and prescription stimulant use. Participants were asked if the used substances without a prescription or not as directed. The final sample included 38,298 participants.
The sample was 43% heterosexual female, 47% heterosexual male, 1% lesbian female, 2% gay male, 6% bisexual female, and 2% bisexual male. Heterosexual men in college or graduated had the lowest rate of past year opioid use and heterosexual women not in college had the lowest rate of any stimulant use. The highest rates of prescription drug misuse were in sexual identity minority groups including lesbian women not in college, bisexual women not in college, and college/college graduate bisexual men. Psychological distress was associated with every form of drug use. Lesbian and bisexual women had higher rates of opioid misuse when compared to heterosexual women. These findings identify need for screening of psychological distress and prescription drug misuse in sexual identity minority young adults, especially in sexual identity minority women.
Take Away: The aim of this study was to examine relationships among education status, sex, sexual identity, psychological distress, and substance use in US young adults between the ages of 18-25 years. Measures included sexual identity, education status, psychological distress, and past-year prescription medication use and misuse. Heterosexual men had the lowest rate of past year opioid use and heterosexual women not in college had the lowest rate of any stimulant use. The highest rates of prescription drug misuse was in sexual identity minorities. Psychological distress associated with every form of drug use in men and women. Lesbian and bisexual women had higher rates of opioid misuse when compared to heterosexual women. Findings suggest the need for screening of psychological distress and prescription drug misused in sexual identity minority young adults.