Stigma and Substance Use Among Transgender and Nonbinary Young Adults: Results from the Phoenix Study

The purpose of this research study was to describe and compare the prevalence of substance use behaviors in a sample of transgender and nonbinary young adults by gender subgroup (transgender men, transgender women, nonbinary people), and to examine relationships between substance use behaviors, racism, and antitransgender stigma.

This was an analysis of a cross-sectional sample of 215 transgender and nonbinary young adults recruited from the San Francisco Bay area between January 2019 and July 2021. We used multivariable regression models to examine associations between self-reported experiences of antitransgender stigma, racism, and substance use behaviors.

Approximately half of the total sample reported recent heavy episodic drinking (52.8%) and club drug use (50.5%); 19.2% reported daily tobacco use, and 35.7% reported daily marijuana use. There were no gender differences in substance use behaviors. Antitransgender stigma was associated with daily marijuana use, heavy episodic drinking, and club drug use (cocaine, amphetamines, hallucinogens). Black/African American participants were more likely to report daily tobacco use and recent heavy episodic drinking than White participants, and multiracial/multiethnic participants reported greater levels of daily tobacco use compared with White participants. In addition to these main effects, a significant interaction between antitransgender stigma and racism on daily marijuana was found, suggesting risk exacerbation due to intersecting stigmas for participants of color.

Findings demonstrate a need for prevention and treatment interventions addressing linkages between antitransgender stigma, racism, and substance use behaviors among transgender and nonbinary young adults.