What is LGBTQ+ affirming care?
LGBTQ+ affirming care means increasing education among staff, using the correct pronouns and vocabulary, and much more. The important thing is that the LGBTQ+ community is not an afterthought. Only positive things can come from making inclusion a part of every type of care.
Creating comfortable spaces encourages patients to open up and ask for help when they need it. LGBTQ+ affirming care builds trust and helps patients feel comfortable. When patients don’t feel they are in a safe space, they will be less likely to communicate their needs. They may feel it is better to pretend they’re doing okay because it will get them back out on their own and away from a hateful place.
How can LGBTQ+ affirming drug and alcohol detox help?
Seeking out drug and alcohol detox is a vulnerable choice that is never made lightly. Sometimes things get to a place where this is not a choice being made by the person in need of detoxing, so they likely aren’t choosing where they will be cared for either. Those in need of care should be able to head down this road knowing they will be respected by those caring for them.
LGBTQ+ affirming care helps the process run smoothly. When people’s needs are ignored by those they turn to for care, it becomes difficult to reach any sort of healing. LGBTQ+ affirming drug and alcohol detox saves lives. This care ensures that this community feels heard and seen. Through this type of treatment, those who identify as LGBTQ+ know that their well-being matters to those caring for them.
Knowing you are in good hands is a major part of being able to let go and truly heal. LGBTQ+ affirming drug and alcohol detox should not be an afterthought or just some addition to treatment. For this community to find healing and get past the increased levels of substance use seen among them, spaces need to be created where their needs come first.
LGBTQ+ Affirming Drug and Alcohol Detox
The LGBTQ+ community is more affected by alcoholism and drug abuse than many other groups. According to the Alcohol Rehab Guide, up to 25% of this community has moderate alcohol dependency.
For some, this drug and alcohol use started from a good place. Gay bars are one of the few places in the world where LGBTQ+ people can go to make new friends and be themselves. Like with any other bar, alcohol consumption is encouraged in these spaces. For many, it is a staple for having an enjoyable night out.
For others, substance use comes from a darker place. Discrimination is one thing the LGBTQ+ community consistently faces, and it can lead to substance use. Hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills are pushed forward each year, and this community has to listen to people debate what rights they should and should not have. It can be easy to turn to drugs and alcohol to cope.
The higher rates of depression, mental distress, and increased levels of substance use make accessible care that much more important to the LGBTQ+ community. Beyond that, their unstated needs must be met. They deserve to be spoken to and treated in a way that affirms their sexual orientations and gender identities. That is where LGBTQ+ affirming care comes into the picture.
Call us today for LGBTQ+ affirming substance use detox?
Our team of compassionate professionals understands the unique challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community in seeking treatment, and we are here to provide the support and care you need to begin your journey towards recovery.