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Abstract
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The SGM interface with rural non-heteronormativity
A recent analysis indicated that roughly 7.2 % of people in the United States (U.S.) identify as a SGM (Jones, 2022). Similar SGM population proportions have been observed in Western Europe--roughly 7.4 % of people in Germany identify as a SGM, 6.9 % in Spain, and 6.5 % in the United Kingdom (Europe's LGBT Population Mapped, 2016), while roughly 9 % of individuals in Australia identify as a SGM (Ipsos Pride 2023 Global Survey, 2023).
How does SGM representation manifest in rural communities? A...
Existing research on opioid and polysubstance use among SGM
In a recent review of 113 studies that assessed opioid-related outcomes among LGBTQ+ populations, only 10% of these studies were shown to be specifically focused on LGBTQ+ individuals (Paschen-Wolff et al., 2023). This finding illustrates the secondary or "niche" position that SGM generally occupy in this substance use research field (Kidd et al., 2022) despite their higher burden of substance use disorders relative to non-SGM (Qeadan et al., 2021; Struble et al., 2022). In one of the largest...
Future directions and applications
Three strategies are recommended to improve epidemiologic research, clinical screening, and community engagement practices with rural SGM who are or may be at risk of engaging in opioid misuse, injection drug use, or polydrug use...
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is a stark need for more research on rural SGM's opioid use-related risks, which must then be backed by culturally tailored intervention in both clinical screening and public anti-stigma outreach. An integrated approach including the recommendations highlighted here could be highly impactful in bringing greater visibility and support to this understudied and highly vulnerable population...
Language: en |