Discrimination leads Substance Abuse in the LGBT Community

 Center for American Progress reports that LGBT folks turn to drugs to deal with discrimination and hate.

The Advocate states:

Noting that definitive figures are hard to come by, the center estimates that 20% to 30% of LGBT people are substance abusers, as opposed to 9% of the general population. A major contributor to the problem, it says, is “the stress that comes from daily battles with discrimination and stigma.”

“In order to lower these rates, our health care system needs to better meet the needs of gay and transgender people, and our government needs to advance public policies that promote equality for this population,” the brief continues. 

 There's more info here