Everyday use, real impacts: Queer substance use in focus

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Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use among LGBTQ+ communities is a significant issue, yet clinicians and services often struggle to fully understand its social and cultural dimensions. To help address this gap, the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University is hosting a half-day event to present recent findings from two research projects examining LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of substance use, problem recognition, and engagement with support services. This event is open to clinicians, community workers, researchers, students, and community members interested in LGBTQ+ health and AOD issues.

Project 1: Queer Women's Substance Use Over Time

A longitudinal qualitative study exploring alcohol, tobacco, and vaping among LBQ women in Victoria and New South Wales. QSOX followed 60 LBQ women over 18 months to understand how substance use is embedded in community and cultural practices, and how these patterns shift over time, with the aim of informing future health interventions tailored to LBQ women.

Project 2: Futures of Substance

A qualitative study exploring the lived experiences of 40 LGBTQ+ participants in Victoria alongside the perspectives of 22 AOD service workers. 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.

The event will bring together researchers, clinicians, community organisations, and service providers to:

• Share evidence-based insights from qualitative research with LGBTQ+ communities;
• Discuss practical implications for culturally responsive and identity-affirming care;
• Create opportunities for dialogue between researchers and those working on the frontline.

The event will feature presentations from researchers at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS), including:

Dr Ruby Grant, Senior Research Fellow

Ruby Grant is a sociologist specialising in LGBTQ community health and wellbeing. Her research projects have explored lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women’s sexual health, LGBTQ mental health, trans affirming healthcare, bisexual health, and LGBTQ-inclusion in education and healthcare. Ruby is the leading scholar of Tasmanian LGBTQ community wellbeing, with her work providing key insights into the role of place in shaping LGBTQ identity, health, belonging and inclusion in regional and rural areas.

Dr Gene Lim, Research Officer

Gene Lim is a sociologist and a social psychologist with the Australian Research Centre for Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS). His research projects have explored topics including family, domestic and sexual violence, homelessness, mental health, sexual health, community connection among LGBTIQ+ people, suicide and self-harm, sex education, and alcohol and other drugs.

Location

This event will be run as a hybrid workshop, at Thorne Harbour Health (200 Hoddle St Abbotsford) or online via Zoom.

The in-person event will be catered; please indicate any dietary requirements on registration.

Accessibility

Thorne Harbour Health is a wheelchair-accessible venue. If you have any other specific access requests (e.g. Auslan interpretation), please email arcshs@latrobe.edu.au as soon as possible and we will make every effort to accommodate you.