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. 2013 Feb;48(3):274-89.
doi: 10.3109/10826084.2012.755702. Epub 2013 Jan 31.

Sexual orientation disparities in substance misuse: the role of childhood abuse and intimate partner violence among patients in care at an urban community health center

Sari L Reisner  1 , Kathryn L Falb, Aimee Van Wagenen, Chris Grasso, Judith Bradford
Affiliations

Sexual orientation disparities in substance misuse: the role of childhood abuse and intimate partner violence among patients in care at an urban community health center

Sari L Reisner et al. Subst Use Misuse. 2013 Feb.

Abstract

This study examined disparities in lifetime substance misuse by sexual orientation among 2,653 patients engaged in care at an urban community health center in Boston, MA, as well as the potential mediating roles of childhood abuse <age 15 (CA) and intimate partner violence (IPV). Violence indicators were highly associated with substance misuse, as was identifying as a sexual minority compared to heterosexual. CA and IPV experiences partly explained disparities in substance abuse by sexual orientation with differences seen by sex. Clinicians should assess history of CA and IPV among sexual minorities presenting with a history of substance abuse disorders. The study's limitations are noted.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fitted conceptual model for male patients.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Fitted conceptual model for female patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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