Opioid misuse and related deaths have increased over the previous decade making it essential to know factors that may influence opioid misuse among young adults. An at-risk subpopulation for misuse includes those among the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community. The current study aims to look at opioid-related attitudes in relation to past 6-month prescription opioid misuse by sexual orientation among a sample of young adults.

The study included participants from the Truth Longitudinal Cohort which was a national campaign. Measures included sexual orientation and opioid use. Options for sexual orientation included heterosexual or strait, gay or lesbian, bisexual, other, and not at all sure. Opioid/ narcotic drugs were categorized as being a drug that may be prescribed by a doctor to relieve pain such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, etc. Researchers asked on how many occasions in participants lifetime they had taken a prescription painkiller without a doctor’s prescription. They asked opioid-related attitudes including assessing acceptance of misuse and risk perception.

12,745 participants were included in the final analysis with 2.8% identifying as lesbian/gay, 5.6% identifying as bisexual, and 91.6% as heterosexual. Results showed that lesbian/gay and bisexual participants reported more recent use of other drugs when compared to heterosexual respondents. Past ever and 6-moth opioid misuse was significantly higher for LGB participants when compared to heterosexual participants. Also, LGB participant had higher acceptance of misuse while risk perception was higher for heterosexual respondents. Attitudes related to acceptance of opioid misuse correlated to higher odds of ever misuse for heterosexual and bisexual individuals along with higher odds of past 6-month misuse for all participants. This research shows addressing specific attitudes surrounding opioid use may be helpful, especially among LGB young adults.

Take Away: Opioid misuse and related deaths have increased over the previous decade. The current study aims to look at opioid-related attitudes in relation to past 6-month prescription opioid misuse by sexual orientation. The study included participants from the Truth Longitudinal Cohort and measures included sexual orientation and opioid use and attitudes. 12,745 participants were included in the final analysis with 2.8% identifying as lesbian/gay, 5.6% identifying as bisexual, and 91.6% as heterosexual. Researchers found attitudes related to acceptance of opioid misuse correlated to higher odds of ever misuse for heterosexual and bisexual individuals along with higher odds of past 6-month misuse for all participants. This research shows addressing specific attitudes surrounding opioid use may be helpful, especially among LGB young adults.

Pitzer, L., Bennett, M., Simard, B., Schillo, B. A., Vallone, D. M., & Hair, E. C. (2020). Prescription Opioid Misuse: Examining the Role of Opioid-Related Attitudes among Youth and Young Adults by Sexual Orientation. Substance Use & Misuse, 1-9. doi:10.1080/10826084.2020.1753774