Concerns about dysfunctional alcohol use among lesbians and gay men are longstanding. The authors examined alcohol use patterns and treatment utilization among adults interviewed in the 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Sexually active respondents were classified into 2 groups: those with at least 1 same-gender sexual partner (n = 194) in the year prior to interview and those with only opposite-gender sexual partners (n = 9,714). The authors compared these 2 groups separately by gender. For men, normative alcohol use patterns or morbidity did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. However, homosexually active women reported using alcohol more frequently and in greater amounts and experienced greater alcohol-related morbidity than exclusively heterosexually active women. Findings suggest higher risk for alcohol-related problems among lesbians as compared with other women, perhaps because of a more common pattern of moderate alcohol consumption.Alcohol abuse and related morbidity are continuing health concerns in the United States (Harwood, Fountain, & Fountain, 1998). Although moderate drinking may confer some protective health benefits, there is no doubt that heavier or dysfunctional patterns of alcohol consumption have adverse health effects (Poikolainen, 1996). Among those individuals thought to be at higher risk for problematic alcohol use are lesbians and gay men (Bux, 1996;Hughes & Wilsnack, 1994;Paul, Stall, & Bloomfield, 1991). This concern emanates from beliefs that social stigma encourages higher rates of problematic alcohol use, that the traditionally safe environment of gay bars fosters excessive drinking in the population, and that there are fewer normative pressures against alcohol consumption in the gay community that act as inhibitors of alcohol abuse (Bux, 1996;Hughes & Wilsnack, 1997;McKirnan & Peterson, 1989;Paul et al., 1991).In support of these perspectives, early convenience-based surveys of the gay and lesbian population found high-prevalence rates of alcoholism (up to 30%;Fiefield, 1975;Lohrenz, Connely, Coyne, & Spare, 1978). However, samples were commonly small and participants were often recruited from bars frequented by the lesbian and gay community. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript alcohol-related studies, recruitment of lesbians and gay men relied on more sophisticated strategies, drawing large convenience-based samples from multiple sources not exclusively dependent on bar-related proximity but, nonetheless, relying heavily on visible gaycommunity involvement. These researchers, as might be expected, found lower prevalence of alcoholism but also, especially for women, indications of rates exceeding population estimates (Bradford, Ryan, & Rothblum, 1994;Cochran, Bybee, Gage, & Mays, 1996;Knowlton, McCusker, Stoddard, Zapka, & Mayer, 1994;Martin, 1990;McKirnan & Peterson, 1989;Seage et al., 1998).Across studies, a picture emerged that lesbians and gay men may be more likely than other Americans to consume alcohol r...

Modifying the social networks of homeless women appears to be associated with improved mental health outcomes, less risky health behaviors, and greater use of health services.

From a cultural perspective, the analysis revealed both strengths and vulnerabilities of Lebanese women who experienced domestic violence. The study raised several questions, including whether it is appropriate to apply Western-generated domestic violence theories to a Middle Eastern population. Culturally-specific nursing interventions should be directed toward bolstering strong family and social resources to cope with family stressors and to modify patterns of maladaptive communication.

The objective of this study was to describe associations between childhood factors and adult daily substance use profiles among homeless women and to identify independent predictors of daily substance use for the overall sample and for ethnic/acculturation subgroups. Structured surveys were administered to 1,331 homeless women in Los Angeles who were either daily drug and alcohol users for the past 6 months or nondaily substance users. Physical abuse and parental drug abuse predicted daily drug use in the whole sample and selected subgroups, whereas parental alcohol abuse predicted daily alcohol use in the whole sample. Teen self-esteem was also found to have a protective effect on daily alcohol use for the sample and for African American women. Negative peer influence in adolescence predicted daily drug use among high-acculturated Latinas. In summary, childhood abuse, parental substance use, and negative peer influence affect important roles in homeless women's daily substance use.

The purpose of this study was to compare differences in personal, cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and social variables among homeless women who were current drug or alcohol users, or both, past drug or alcohol users, or both, and those who never used drugs or alcohol. The sample consisted of 1,013 women residing in 73 Los Angeles homeless shelters. Depression, anxiety, hostility, emotion-focused coping, lower self-esteem, and less social support were more prevalent among homeless women who continued to use drugs and alcohol than among past users or those who never used. AIDS knowledge was higher among past users. The results contribute important knowledge regarding the pattern of cognitive, psychological, and social differences between users and nonusers.