Addiction in the Transgender Community

Considering that many federally funded surveys hadn’t factored gender identification or sexual identity into their data collection until 2015, the full scope of addiction — and mental health challenges — in the transgender community wasn’t known in detail until more recently.

Mental health issues are certainly common. An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older — basically one in four adults — struggle with a diagnosable mental health disorder every year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders. But the number in the transgender community is staggering.

Nearly one in two members of the transgender population struggle with depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, while an astonishing 41% have attempted suicide. For those who’ve experienced discrimination or violence, 98% reported suicidal thoughts.

In a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, it was reported that transgender and gender-nonconforming college students were four times more likely to report mental health issues compared to the rest of their peers.

Almost 80% of these gender-minority students reported at least one mental health issue compared to 45% of their cisgender peers — students whose gender aligns with their sex assigned at birth.

Discrimination in the Transgender Community

Transgender people, those who express a gender identity differing from the one given at birth, report high rates of unemployment, mistreatment at work, educational and housing challenges, lost medical benefits and health protections, not to mention physical and sexual assault in a study reported by NPR.

The lack of acceptance from family and friends has also been widely reported as problematic for the transgender community, not to mention the frequent portrayal of negative stereotypes for transgender individuals. While some progress has been acknowledged in popular movies and television, there’s still room for improvement.

Rather than being seen as nuanced human beings with actual feelings, many transgender characters are relegated to negative roles including cocaine addicts, sex workers, and serial killers. Anti-transgender slurs and dialogue also run rampant, reinforcing discriminatory beliefs and behavior.

Gender Dysmorphia and Addiction

For some, being transgender comes with the added pain of gender dysmorphia, which is the psychological distress of feeling at odds between your gender identity and birth sex.

Though gender dysmorphia often begins in childhood, some transgender individuals will experience this after puberty or well into adulthood. And for someone making the choice to transition to the sex they identify with, it’s a process that is often accompanied with a high level of emotional pain.

While changing their name, designations on legal paperwork, or having surgery may be an affirming experience for some in the transgender community, for others, it’s stressful and painful to consider the response from family, friends, and co-workers.

As a result, many transgender individuals abuse alcohol, prescription drugs, and other substances as a coping mechanism. When compared with cisgender individuals, recent studies have shown that up to 72% of the transgender community have high rates of alcohol abuse, while up to 71% use marijuana. An additional 34% use illicit drugs, which includes intravenous drug use.

Suffering in Silence

In a survey from the National Center for Transgender Equality, half of the individuals reported “having to teach their medical providers about transgender care.” Another 19% noted that they’d been “refused care” because of being transgender.

As a result, it’s not surprising that transgender people aren’t always open about their struggles. Studies have shown that nearly 60% of transgender individuals do not have a primary care physician, while more than 40% surveyed won’t share their identity with their doctor for fear of being rejected for care or discriminated against. Not only is this damaging for mental health but for physical health as well.

The best way to help someone you love who is transgender is to be supportive. Treat him or her with respect. Don’t ask questions you wouldn’t want to be asked. Inquire which pronouns are preferred and apologize if you get the terminology wrong. Point them in the direction of affirming mental health services so they don’t feel they have to suffer in silence.

A Road to Healing for LGBTQ+ Individuals

At Rio Retreat Center, we host the Coming Home workshop, a 5-day experiential workshop created as a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals to gain empowerment and overcome past hardship and isolation. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, or mental health struggles including depression or anxiety, don’t hesitate to take the first step toward healing. With programming tailored to the unique needs of the transgender community, our compassionate professionals can help.