Risk of Substance Use Among LGBTQI+ Community Affected by Lifetime and Day-to-day Discrimination - Results from a Cross-sectional Study Performed in South India.

Background: Stressors from discrimination (lifetime and day-to-day) can be precipitated as mental health problems particularly substance use among marginalized subjects including LGBTQI+ community. The study assessed substance use among LGBTQI+ adults and its association with lifetime and day-to-day discrimination.

Materials and methods: The study was performed as a cross-sectional design among 254 LGBTQI+ adults above the age of 18 years where substance use was measured using WHO - ASSIST V.3 questionnaire and discrimination was evaluated using a lifetime and day-to-day assessing questionnaire. The analysis of risk of substance use amid discrimination was measured using logistic regression.

Results: Among the subjects 64.2% were Gay men with a mean (SD) age of 30.67 (6.05) years. In lifetime discrimination, experience of discrimination was found to be always present during the enquiries for any housing among 11 (4.3%) while in day-to-day discrimination, the experience was always present in public places among 11 (4.3%) and public transport 13 (5.1%). In substance use risk score, 169 (66.5%) subjects showed a moderate risk for using any alcohol beverages and 135 (53.1%) showed a moderate risk in using any tobacco related products. The analysis showed a significant positive association between the discrimination and substance use (alcohol and tobacco related) among LGBTQI+ adults.

Conclusion: The increased proportion of substance use among the LGBTQI+ community is linked with the discrimination suffered by the individuals, which is to be addressed by society in a deeper and specific manner.