ArticleLGBT health2026
Differences in Substance Use and Mental Health by Sexual Identity Among U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults.
Article in LGBT health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Chronic Health Conditions and Substance Use Among Canadian Youth: A Nationally Representative Study: Problèmes de santé chroniques et usage de substances chez les jeunes Canadiens : étude représentative à l'échelle nationale.Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeThis study examined associations between sexual identity and both substance use and mental health outcomes via nationally representative data from adolescents and young adults, using a six-response sexual identity assessment.
methodsData were from 11,328 adolescents (12-17 years) and 13,131 young adults (18-25 years) completing the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Sexual identity had six-response options: heterosexual, lesbian/gay, bisexual, using a different term, unsure/don't know, and do not understand the question. Substance use variables included alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, prescription drug misuse, polysubstance use, and substance use disorder (SUD). Mental health variables included major depressive episodes, suicidal ideation, and serious psychological distress (measured only among young adults). Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to examine whether substance use and mental health differed by sexual identity. Analyses adjusted for sociodemographics, occurred separately by age group and sex, and heterosexual individuals were the reference category.
resultsYouth identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, unsure/don't know, or using a different term had significantly higher rates of all mental health concerns than their heterosexual peers, with 80% of adjusted odds ratios above 3.0. Substance use-sexual identity links were less consistent, although lesbian and bisexual females were more likely than heterosexual females to have past-year SUD. Individuals not understanding the sexual identity question had lower rates than their heterosexual peers on 15 of 36 outcomes (41.7%).
conclusionScreening and indicated prevention for mental health concerns and SUD are needed for sexual minority youth, along with the development of culturally sensitive interventions.
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