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2008
Drug & Alcohol Review
[ Full Report ; press release ]
At the end of a month where another three gay men’s deaths have been directly linked to drug and alcohol misuses, the LGBT Advisory Group has published its review of drug and alcohol use amongst London’s LGBT community.
The review was undertaken by Advisory Group members without funding and is an independent perspective to build a picture of the challenge facing London and the opportunities for the Metropolitan Police and their partners to make a real difference. However the Met were supportive of the review and worked with the lead advisor, Dr Justin Varney, to ensure full cooperation and participation.
Simon Bray, South Link Commander, ACPO lead Methamphetamine and Precursors Working Group said about the review “In the lead-up to this study ACPO was aware of the reputation of methamphetamine (crystal meth) as a drug of choice in the LGBT communities. The work of the Advisory Group has allowed us to gain a better understanding of methamphetamine and wider drug use which will assist future work in this important area.”
The review was started in August 2007 following concerns that more LGBT people in the capital were dying as a result of drug and alcohol misuse than from homophobic violence.
The review used a series of paper based and online questionnaires as well as face-to-face interviews with key stakeholders. Over 170 community members took part in the online survey, giving confidential perspectives and views on their own drug and alcohol use and that of their friends and partners.
Bob Hodgson, Co-Chair of the LGBT AG, said “In the last couple of years over ten deaths in London have been linked to drug overdose or alcohol misuse in the LGBT community, we cannot just continue to think one size fits all for drug and alcohol response, it is time that the specific needs of the LGBT community are addressed.”
Although recognising its limitation, the review found that patterns of drug and alcohol use amongst lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender individuals in London was different from those seen in national population based studies, and hence there was a distinct need for a different approach in tackling the challenge of drugs and alcohol misuse in this community.
- Drug and alcohol misuse reflected other LGBT studies, in being higher amongst gay men than the general population
- There was a general lack of awareness of any LGBT targeted or accessible support services.
- Most respondents who used drugs did so at home and purchased them at home.
The review therefore made a range of key recommendations including the Metropolitan Police raising the profile of LGBT targeted and accessible support services, raising the profile of LGBT liaison officers, working with partners such as NHS London and the London Ambulance services to tackle overdose in club settings and developing a regional strategy targeting drug and alcohol misuse amongst the LGBT community.
Dr Justin Varney, author of the report, said ‘This is small snapshot of the challenge facing London. The Met and their strategic partners need to grasp the challenge and do something strategic and targeted, crystal is an issue but so is cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol and the brutal truth is that these deaths could be prevented.”
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