The Opioid Affected Youth Initiative’s nine-segment podcast series, Answering the Call, seeks to examine the roles and perspectives of first responders, marginalized communities, and justice systems, as well as the role of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the opioid crisis.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/aromantic/agender (LGBTQIA) community has been hard hit by substance misuse and its detrimental outcomes. Members of this community are at an increased risk of developing substance use disorders (SUDs) in response to feelings of stigmatization, isolation, and negative self-image perpetuated by an often less-than-welcoming society. Treatment for these individuals may be difficult to access and may be significantly harmful due to stigmatized attitudes, lack of understanding, or outright bias. Support of LGBTQIA individuals with SUDs requires creating safe spaces in which they can connect and receive supportive treatment without fear of discrimination or additional marginalization. In this episode, Dishon Laing and Steven Haden will focus on ways in which programs are prioritizing providing a common language and understanding of the nuanced experiences of LGBTQIA individuals with SUDs. It will highlight the importance of embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into trauma-informed practices to promote responses that are non-stigmatizing and culturally aligned.