HYBRID EVENT: You can participate in person at Boston, Massachusetts, USA or Virtually from your home or work.
7th Edition of Global Conference on
Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health and Psychiatry
October 19-21, 2026 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Substance Use in LGBTQ Populations
Substance Use in LGBTQ Populations
Substance use rates are disproportionately higher in LGBTQ populations due to unique stressors like stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion. Substances are often used as coping mechanisms for dealing with minority stress and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Barriers to seeking treatment, including fear of discrimination in healthcare settings, further complicate recovery efforts. Tailored interventions that create safe and inclusive environments are essential. Peer support groups, culturally competent care, and affirming therapies can significantly improve outcomes. Addressing the intersectionality of identity and addiction ensures that treatment approaches resonate with the lived experiences of LGBTQ individuals.
Committee Members
Nile Stanley
University of North Florida, United States
Ann Marie Leonard Zabel
Curry College, United States
Edie Raether
NeuroShifts and Wings for Wishes Academy, United States GAB 2026 Speakers
Sindu Padmanabhan
Bharathiar University, India
Kayla Albers
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Jorja Jamison
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Andrew Drasen
A Vision of Hope Media, United StatesSubmit your abstract Today
Title : The Storm Within: Neuropsychological Insights into Dysregulation and Substance Use in the Adolescent Brain.
Ann Marie Leonard Zabel, Curry College, United States
Title : Sexualizing anxiety and anxiolytic sex: Misattribution of arousal
Sam Vaknin, CIAPS, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Title : Workplace and occupational mental health: Supporting well-being at work
Sindu Padmanabhan, Bharathiar University, India
Title : Resilience in counseling: Processing grief for the addictions counselor
Kayla Albers, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Title : Resilience in counseling: Processing grief for the addictions counselor
Jorja Jamison, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Title : Identity restoration as a missing variable in relapse prevention
Andrew Drasen, A Vision of Hope Media, United States