Counselor Magazine - Checklist of Reasons for Drinking for Single Gay and Lesbian Clients

Newsflash

The Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse will hold its 32nd Annual AMERSA National Conference on November 6-8, 2008, in Washington DC.

The meeting will reflect on AMERSA's interdisciplinary strengths and the commitment to disseminate the latest developments in substance abuse education, prevention, treatment and research that challenge all health care professionals.

Confirmed plenary sessions include:

Carlo DiClemente, PhD and Thaddeus Herzog, PhD in a Spicy Debate - Contemplating Change: The Pros and Cons of the Transtheoretical Model for Understanding Changes in Substance Use

John Rodolico, PhD, Terence Keane, PhD and Susan Storti, PhD, RN in a Plenary Panel Session on Combat Stress and Substance Abuse in the Wake of War

Randolph D. Muck, MEd, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, speaking on Adolescent/Emerging Adults

John Cunningham, PhD, Senior Scientist Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, speaking on the Internet and New Media as Tools to Recovery

Jerome Jaffe, MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine, will be the recipient of the distinguished John P. McGovern Award

Stephanie O'Malley, PhD, Director, Division of Substance Abuse Research, CMHC, will receive the prestigious Betty Ford Award honoring her valuable contributions to the substance abuse field.

Call for Abstracts now open. Submit abstracts and workshops online by May 15.

For further information, visit www.amersa.org or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Checklist of Reasons for Drinking for Single Gay and Lesbian Clients

Columns - Assessment Tools

Sunday, 31 March 2002

This checklist is designed primarily for single gay and lesbian clients who drink alcohol. It assesses the reasons that gay and lesbian clients believe they drink, and should provide guidance for therapeutic interventions. The checklist covers three general areas which can cause stress and lead to alcohol use for gays and lesbians: Internalized Homophobia; Relationships & Sexuality; and Homophobia from Others. If more than 40 percent of items are checked in any area, therapy should address the issue involved with the client to facilitate the effectiveness of treatment interventions.

Note: For male clients, use "men" and "gay" as needed; for female clients, use "women" and "lesbian." Some items (particularly about being "in the closet") will not pertain to some clients.

Check if your answer is yes:

Internalized Homophobia (Discuss if at least 3 items are checked)
__ 1. I drink because I am ashamed of being gay/lesbian.
__ 2. I drink because I feel guilty that I am gay/lesbian.
__ 3. I drink because I am disappointed in myself and my orientation.
__ 4. I drink when I am depressed about my life and the direction it's going.
__ 5. I drink when I want to forget how much I hate myself.
__ 6. I drink because I cope better with being gay/lesbian when I have a good buzz on.
__ 7. I drink because I see no reason not to drink, after all, life for gays and lesbians is one painful event after another.

Relationships & Sexuality (Discuss if at least 4 items are checked)
__ 8. I drink because it is easier for me to talk to strangers at gay/lesbian social events.
__ 9. I drink because I am not comfortable in gay/lesbian bars unless I am drinking.
__ 10. I drink because drinking gives me the courage to approach men/women I am attracted to.
__ 11. I drink when men/women I am attracted to refuse my advances.
__ 12. I drink because I am unable to find a partner.
__ 13. I drink because gays/lesbians always drink, if I don't drink, I won't fit in.
__ 14. I drink because I get aroused when I am drunk.
__ 15. I drink because I only enjoy sex when I have been drinking.
__ 16. I drink because I am unable to have sex unless I have been drinking.
__ 17. I drink because I am afraid I will get AIDS.

Homophobia from Others (Discuss if at least 5 items are checked)
__ 18. I drink because I am afraid to come out to members of my family.
__ 19. I drink because most of my so-called friends don't know I am a gay/lesbian.
__ 20. I drink to forget I am a gay/lesbian in a straight world.
__ 21. I drink because I can't trust my friends to accept me for who I really am.
__ 22. I drink because I know my parents are ashamed of me for being gay/lesbian.
__ 23. I drink because my religion teaches me that I am unworthy and unacceptable.
__ 24. I drink because I feel like the whole world is judging me.
__ 25. I drink because of the strain of being in the closet at work.
__ 26. I drink so I'll care less about what people think of me.
__ 27. I drink because I resent the way society treats gays/lesbians.
__ 28. I drink because I get tired of people spreading gossip and rumors about my sexual orientation.
__ 29. I drink because my parents reject me for being gay/lesbian.
__ 30. I drink because I am afraid that someone will physically assault me because I am gay/lesbian.

Source: Sylvia Kay Fisher is a research psychologist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. She was formerly a therapist who has extensive experience with gay and lesbian clients. Ronnie Fisher is a professor of psychology at Miami-Dade Community College. Previously, he was a social worker and counselor.

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