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Substance Use in the Transgender Population: A Meta-Analysis
Miriam Cotaina1,2, Marc Peraire1,2, Mireia Boscá2
1TXP Research Group, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 12006 Castellon de la plana, Spain.
Brain Sciences
|March 25, 2022
Summary
Transgender individuals show higher rates of tobacco and other substance use compared to cisgender people, but not alcohol use or substance use disorders. This highlights the need for inclusive policies and services to combat stigma and discrimination.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychiatry
- Sociology
Background:
- Substance use is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding substance use patterns in diverse populations, including transgender individuals, is crucial.
- Existing research on transgender substance use is fragmented, necessitating a comprehensive meta-analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis assessing the relationship between transgender identity and various substance use indicators.
- To compare substance use prevalence and disorders between transgender and cisgender populations.
- To identify potential disparities and inform targeted interventions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO.
- Inclusion of 20 studies with a total of 2,376,951 participants (18,329 transgender).
- Random-effects model used to analyze odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations.
Main Results:
- Transgender individuals were more likely to use tobacco (OR=1.65) and have a history of substance use (OR=1.48).
- Current use of specific substances (excluding tobacco and alcohol) was also higher in transgender individuals (OR=1.79).
- No significant differences were found in current alcohol use, general substance use, or substance use disorders between transgender and cisgender groups.
Conclusions:
- Substance use disorders do not differ between transgender and cisgender populations, challenging stigmatizing perceptions.
- Transgender individuals exhibit increased tobacco and non-alcohol substance use, potentially linked to emotional regulation or minority stress.
- Policies addressing discrimination and inclusive, adapted prevention and treatment services for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are essential.
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