Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) populations are a high-risk group for engaging in problematic substance use (i.e., drugs and alcohol) due to their marginalized status in a heterosexual society. Previous substance-use research has primarily focused on gay and bisexual men, omitting the other biological sex of the LGB population. The research presented here will focus on substance use among lesbian and bisexual women, including: substance use trends; patterns; harms; and dependence. Understanding the profile of substance-using lesbian and bisexual women will help policy-makers to develop effective substance-use prevention initiatives aimed at this group, including effectively responding to their needs in treatment and recovery programs.