Discrimination, Prescription Drug Misuse and Heroin Use in Adolescent LGB Populations

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between various types of discrimination and drug use in LGB adolescents. The relationship was explored by examining (i) whether heroin use or prescription drug use was more prevalent in the LGB population (ii) correlations between physical fighting and heroin use, bullying at school and heroin use, electronic bullying and heroin use, as well as (iii) correlations between physical fighting and prescription drug use, bullying at school and prescription drug use, and electronic bullying and prescription drug use. It was predicted that prescription drug use would be more prevalent than heroin use in the LGB population. Out of all the variables related to discrimination, it was predicted physical fighting would be most closely related to heroin use, as well as to prescription drug use. Analysis was conducted using data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). The survey seeks to monitor health behaviors implicated in contributing to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. Results showed that prescription drug use was more prevalent than heroin use in the LGB population. Physical fighting was the only discriminatory variable positively correlated with both heroin use and prescription drug use in the LGB sample. This study adds to a growing body of data on opioid misuse and the types of experiences and behaviors that lead certain populations to use opioid-related drugs more than others.