Gay Lesbian Drug Treatment Guide

For many individuals in the LGBT community, access to drug rehabilitation services can be compromised by several treatment-related issues. For LGBT individuals struggling against drug addiction, finding drug addiction treatment that fosters an atmosphere of awareness and tolerance is of the utmost importance. Additionally, drug addiction treatment specialists, clinical therapists and other staff members must display sensitivity and familiarity with some of the unique issues facing LGBT individuals in recovery.

Gay and Lesbian Drug Treatment Guidance

For many gay and lesbian individuals, selecting drug treatment programs can cause pause, largely due to fears of judgment, prejudice or ignorance that may be present in a given addiction treatment facility. Here are a few aspects of treatment to ask prospective gay and lesbian drug addiction programs, to ensure effective and tolerant treatment during your residential drug rehabilitation stay.

• LGBT Expertise of Clinical Therapists
  Not all clinical therapists have experience in counseling lesbian and gay individuals in the course of addiction recovery. You may want to ask about treatment paradigms and outlooks present in the psychological portion of addiction recovery at the center of your choice.
• Addiction Treatment Regulations
  Gay and lesbian patients have a right to recover in a non-threatening, non-judgmental atmosphere. Additionally, inquire about any rules, regulations and reporting procedures of the addiction recovery center regarding instances of intolerance, prejudice or maltreatment – either stemming from staff behavior or that of other residents in recovery.
• Methods of Detoxification
  Many individuals prefer to detoxify with natural methods rather than those using heavy implementation of medication. You may want to ask whether “medical detox” is employed or whether the center of your choice employs “medically supervised detox” (where vital signs are monitored, nursing care provided and the majority of withdrawal symptoms are treated with over-the-counter or psychiatric medications).
• Staff-to-Patient Ratio
  In order to provide a higher level of care, the staff-to-patient ratio should remain relatively high. Treatment centers may also speak of “limited enrollment,” a sign that a given drug or alcohol recovery center limits the number of patients present at a given time in order to provide personalized standards of care.
• Transitional Planning
  Transitional planning allows gay and lesbian individuals to prepare for a sober future in all aspects of living. Potential triggers for drug and alcohol use are identified, and social, financial and relationship pressures are assessed. Continuing care is provided via referral, and in some cases, referrals to sober living facilities may also be employed if patients require extended stays in sober atmospheres.