The Wire

If you’re a teenager these days chances are you’ve used recreational drugs, as they’ve become more acceptable in youth culture. But if you’re gay, you’re probably using more drugs more often. Why is this the case? Research shows that it’s because same sex attracted youth have a rougher time day to day, living in often hostile environments. While the connection between the gay scene and drugs is not a new one, research has found that young people in the 14-18 age bracket, most of whom are not out, or on the scene, are using more drugs than 18-21 year olds….and also that young people in regional areas are more likely to be injecting drugs than in the cities. Shefah Szetu spoke to Dr Lynne Hillier, research fellow at La Trobe University’s Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society in Melbourne, who is concerned about these results. She also spoke to Stephen, who organises the Fun & Esteem group for gay and bisexual men under 25 at the Aids Council of New South Wales (ACON). Katy Roy facilitated a similar pilot project for same-sex attracted women at ACON last year, but due to a lack of funding there are currently no support groups for young same-sex attracted women in NSW.

The association between licit and illicit drug use and sexuality in young Australian women
Writing Themselves in Report
Aids Council of NSW (ACON)