When the Need Is Greater, Our Response Must Be Greater: Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community

At Hope Council, we believe effective prevention begins with understanding who is most at risk, recognizing barriers to accessing help, and making sure resources reach the people who need them.

Sometimes, the data tells us we need to take a closer look.

Research consistently shows that people within the LGBTQ+ community experience disproportionately high rates of substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and barriers to accessing care.

According to America’s Health Rankings’ analysis of national data, 32.4% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults experienced a substance use disorder in 2021, compared with 16% of heterosexual adults.

That’s approximately twice the rate.

And when a population experiences nearly twice the risk, shouldn’t we be willing to consider investing twice the effort and resources into prevention, education, and support when possible? At Hope Council, we believe the answer is yes.

Sexual orientation or gender identity does not cause addiction. But the circumstances people experience can influence their risk. Discrimination, rejection, social isolation, chronic stress, and difficulty finding welcoming healthcare services can all contribute to increased vulnerability.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes the connection between discrimination, stressful social conditions, and substance use.

These are not simply statistics. They represent real people, families, friends, coworkers, and neighbors in our own community. And they remind us that prevention cannot always take a one-size-fits-all approach.

Meeting people where they are sometimes means recognizing that some populations face greater barriers and making an intentional effort to reach them.

That doesn’t diminish the needs of anyone else. It strengthens our ability to serve the community as a whole.

Hope Council is proud to participate in the inaugural World AIDS Day event hosted by Vivent Health and Holton Street Clinic on December 4th 2026 in Kenosha, WI. World AIDS Day is an opportunity to honor lives lost to HIV/AIDS, support people living with HIV, and increase awareness of prevention, testing, treatment, and available resources.

Although HIV affects people of every background and identity, substance use and HIV prevention share important public health connections.

The National Institutes of Health recognizes the importance of addressing substance use disorders alongside HIV prevention and treatment, emphasizing evidence-based care, routine screening, and nonjudgmental support.

For Hope Council, participating in this event is a natural extension of the work we do every day. Our team will be there to provide substance use prevention education, share resources, answer questions about Hope Council’s programs and services, and help connect individuals and families with support.

Most importantly, we’ll be there to listen.

Showing up matters. It creates opportunities for conversations that might not otherwise happen, builds trust, and helps people recognize that support is available without judgment.