Futures of substance
Exploring LGBTIQ+ people's understandings of ‘problematic’ use of alcohol and other drugs
2024-2025
Gene Lim, Ruby Grant, Leonie Ryan, Adrian Farrugia, Ruth McNair , Adam Bourne
This study, conducted in partnership with Thorne Harbour Health, investigates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people’s experiences with and understandings of alcohol and other drug use, with a focus on how LGBTIQ+ people who use alcohol and other drugs come to view their use as a concern, and how they seek support.
The project examined how people come to recognise (or not recognise) their substance use as problematic, and the implications this has for help-seeking, service engagement, and professional practice.
Futures of Substance Briefing Papers
Futures of Substance: Exploring impactful (or 'problematic') alchol and other drug use in LGBTQ+ communities - Executive summary 
A summary of the Futures of Substance project's background and purpose, methods, findings, and key recommendations for policy/systems, health promotion and service providers/service workers.
Download the Futures of Substance Executive summary
Futures of Substance Briefing paper 1 - Motivations for substance use among LGBTQ+ people 
This first factsheet specifically explores motivations for substance use, which provides essential grounding context about how LGBTQ+ individuals engage not only with substances, but also their support needs.
Download Futures of Substance Briefing paper 1
Futures of Substance Briefing paper 2 - Understandings of impactful (or 'problematic') AOD use 
This factsheet explores how LGBTQ+ people come to understand their substance use as impactful, and how that understanding shapes how and when they sought support, and their relationships with others.
Download Futures of Substance briefing paper 2
Futures of Substance Briefing paper 3 - LGBTQ+ people's experiences of professional AOD support 
Impactful use was linked to many relational, occupational, legal and health-related challenges that eventually outweighed the benefits of using substances, motivating participants to access professional support.
Participants described key factors that helped them engage with support services, benefit from therapy, and build strong relationships with providers.
Download Futures of Substance briefing paper 3
Futures of Substance Briefing paper 4 - Peer cultures of AOD care within the LGBTQ+ community 
This factsheet explores how peer cultures of care function within the LGBTQ+ community.
Partners and funding
This project is funded by the Alcohol and Drug Research Innovation Agenda (ADRIA), an initiative of the State Government of Victoria. It is conducted in partnership with and conducted in partnership with Thorne Harbour Health and VAADA.