3009/2025

QSOX & Futures of Substance: Queer substance use in focus

QSOX & Futures of Substance: New broadsheets from two major ARCSHS projects exploring LGBTQ+ experiences of alcohol and other drug use

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.

The team at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) is pleased to present two series of broadsheets, with findings from two of our major studies of LGBTQ+ alcohol and other drug use, QSOX and Futures of Substance.

Queer Women's Substance Use Over Time

This Australian Research Council funded longitudinal qualitative study explores alcohol, tobacco, and vaping among LBQ women in Victoria and New South Wales, in partnership with the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, alongside Thorne Harbour Health, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, ACON, Quit Victoria, and the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association.

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.

Cover of 'QSOX: Queer Women's Substance Use over Time: Briefing Paper 1 - LBQ Women and Alcohol, by Ruby Grant, Julie Mooney-Somers, Amy Pennay, Ruth McNair, Jennifer Power, Jami Jones and Adam Bourne, featuring the QSOX logo with a cigarette forming the tail of the Q, a rainbow inside the O and a wine bottle crossing the X, with a design of various diverse hands holding wine and spirit glasses, beer cans and bottles, and two hands holding each other.

QSOX Briefing Paper 1: LBQ Women and Alcohol

Cover of 'QSOX: Queer Women's Substance Use over Time: Briefing Paper 2 - LBQ Women and Smoking, by Ruby Grant, Julie Mooney-Somers, Amy Pennay, Ruth McNair, Jennifer Power, Jami Jones and Adam Bourne, featuring the QSOX logo with a cigarette forming the tail of the Q, a rainbow inside the O and a wine bottle crossing the X, with a design of various diverse hands holding cigarettes and alcohol, and two hands holding each other.

QSOX Briefing Paper 2: LBQ Women and Smoking

Cover of 'QSOX: Queer Women's Substance Use over Time: Briefing Paper 3 - LBQ Women and Vaping, by Ruby Grant, Julie Mooney-Somers, Amy Pennay, Ruth McNair, Jennifer Power, Jami Jones and Adam Bourne, featuring the QSOX logo with a cigarette forming the tail of the Q, a rainbow inside the O and a wine bottle crossing the X, with a design of various diverse hands holding a vape and various alcohol, and two hands holding each other.

QSOX Briefing Paper 3: LBQ Women and Vaping

Cover of 'QSOX: Queer Women's Substance Use over Time: Practice Guide: Supporting LBQ Women and Non-Binary People with Alcohol, Tobacco and Nicotine Use, by Ruby Grant, Julie Mooney-Somers, Amy Pennay, Ruth McNair, Jennifer Power, Jami Jones and Adam Bourne, featuring the QSOX logo with a cigarette forming the tail of the Q, a rainbow inside the O and a wine bottle crossing the X, with a design of various diverse hands holding cigarettes, vapes, wine and beer, and two hands holding each other.

QSOX Practice Guide: Supporting LBQ women and non-binary people with alcohol, tobacco and nicotine use

QSOX Zine

As part of the QSOX project, we have produced an accompanying zine that can be printed and folded into a booklet. It's available to download as A4 PDF, or as PDF with print bleeds.

For folding instructions, please follow this Youtube video.

This zine is also available as a series of social media tiles - click to view, or to download, right-click and choose 'Save image as' for each tile:

Text ‘QSOX: Reflecting on your use: A guide for lesbian, bisexual and queer women and non binary people thinking about alcohol, smoking or vaping. This is for anyone who’s ever wondered: What does it mean to me? Why do I drink/smoke/vape? Do I want to keep doing it this way?' with a photo of a person looking at an art installation, a drawing of a hand holding a cigarette, a hand holding a wineglass and a hand holding a vape, and the logo of ARCSHS/La TrobeText ‘You are not alone: Whatever your relationship to alcohol, cigarettes or vapes, you’re not alone. Many LBQ women and non binary people use these substances in ways that are social, pleasurable, stressful and complicated. This guide is based on real stories from our community.' with a drawing of a diverse group of women smiling and chatting around a table with drinks.Text ‘Why do I use? Usage can be shaped by * Affirming gender or queer identity * Connecting socially * Reclaiming joy and pleasure * Coping with stress or mental health * Navigating trauma, minority stress or shame. Reflection prompts: * What role does alcohol, smoking or vaping play in my life? * Are there moments it feels affirming, fun or empowering? * Are there times when it feels like a crutch or something I want to change?’ with a drawing of a hand holding a beer bottle and a close-up photograph of a burning cigaretteText ‘Queer identity + Substance use: For some, substance use is wrapped up in how we express or explore our gender and sexuality. Reflection prompts: * Has my gender or sexual identity influenced how or why I use? * What kinds of spaces do I feel most safe or comfortable using in? * Are there parts of me I feel more connected to when I use? * Are there other ways to express my gender or sexual identity that don’t involve substances?' with a photo of two women leaning on each other, one smoking one vaping, their faces partially cropped out

Text ‘When it feels like too much: Sometimes what starts as fun or affirming can become hard to control. Reflection prompts: * Have there been moments I felt worried about my use? * Do I feel shame or stress around it? * What support might I want, if any?’ with a drawing of a hand ashing a cigarette into a drink glass, and a photo of two foam-topped cocktails in coupe glassesText ‘What could change look like? Change doesn’t have to mean quitting overnight. It could mean: * Cutting down * Changing where, when or why I use * Trying a new way to manage stress * Asking for support from a friend, GP or therapist. Reflection prompts: * What kind of relationship with alcohol/smoking/vaping feels right for me? * What small change would feel good to try? * Who could I talk to about it?' with a photograph of a gum tree forest on a sunny dayText ‘Community + care: You deserve support that’s non-judgmental, affirming and queer-inclusive. Whether from friends, chosen family, health workers or online communities. You don’t have to go it alone. Resources: ACON [QR code] Thorne Harbour Health [QR code] Quit Victoria [QR code]' with a drawing of two women’s hands clasping each other.Text ‘Final thoughts: Your relationship with substances is your own. This zine isn’t about telling you what to do. It’s about giving you space to reflect, with honesty and compassion. You are worthy of support. You are allowed to change. You are allowed not to. This zine was developed as part of the QSOX Study: Queer women’s substance use over time. Photos from study participants. For more information, visit QSOX [QR code].' with a drawing of three diverse women wearing AFL jerseys.

Futures of Substance

This qualitative study, funded by the Alcohol and Drug Research Innovation Agenda (ADRIA), an initiative of the State Government of Victoria, and conducted in partnership with Thorne Harbour Health and VAADA, explores 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.

Report cover for 'Futures of substance: Executive summary' with design of five colourful parallel curving lines and additional text: 'Exploring impactful (or 'problematic') alcohol and other drug use in LGBTQ+ communities' and authors Gene Lim, Ruby Grant, Adrian Farrugia, Ruth McNair, Leonie Ryan, Nic Robinson-Griffith and Adam Bourne, with the logos of ARCSHS/La Trobe, ADRIA, Thorne Harbour Health and VAADA.

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.

Report cover for 'Futures of substance: Briefing Paper 1 - Motivations for substance use among LGBTQ+ people' with design of five colourful parallel curving lines and additional text: 'Exploring impactful (or 'problematic') alcohol and other drug use in LGBTQ+ communities' and authors Gene Lim, Ruby Grant, Adrian Farrugia, Ruth McNair, Leonie Ryan, Nic Robinson-Griffith and Adam Bourne, with the logos of ARCSHS/La Trobe, ADRIA, Thorne Harbour Health and VAADA.

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.

Report cover for 'Futures of substance: Briefing paper 2 - Understandings of impactful (or 'problematic') AOD use' with design of five colourful parallel curving lines and additional text: 'Exploring impactful (or 'problematic') alcohol and other drug use in LGBTQ+ communities' and authors Gene Lim, Ruby Grant, Adrian Farrugia, Ruth McNair, Leonie Ryan, Nic Robinson-Griffith and Adam Bourne, with the logos of ARCSHS/La Trobe, ADRIA, Thorne Harbour Health and VAADA.

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.

Report cover for 'Futures of substance: Briefing paper 3 - LGBTQ+ people's experiences of professional AOD support' with design of five colourful parallel curving lines and additional text: 'Exploring impactful (or 'problematic') alcohol and other drug use in LGBTQ+ communities' and authors Gene Lim, Ruby Grant, Adrian Farrugia, Ruth McNair, Leonie Ryan, Nic Robinson-Griffith and Adam Bourne, with the logos of ARCSHS/La Trobe, ADRIA, Thorne Harbour Health and VAADA.

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.

Report cover for 'Futures of substance: Briefing paper 4 - Peer cultures of AOD care within the LGBTQ+ community' with design of five colourful parallel curving lines and additional text: 'Exploring impactful (or 'problematic') alcohol and other drug use in LGBTQ+ communities

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.

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