Updated January 31, 2015.
Students are a high risk group for substance use, both in terms of having greater exposure to substance use, living in a culture where substance use is widely accepted, and in terms of having greater risks of injury, side effects, or other negative consequences of substance use. But there is sub-group of students who research has shown to be at even greater risk than the population of students in general -- those who identify as part of a sexual minority, specifically those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).
Read: What are Sexual Minorities?Â
While lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teens and young adults have higher rates of
alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and related problems when compared to their heterosexual counterparts, these risks are not as straightforward as being part of a sexual minority automatically meaning that LGBT students use more drugs than other students. In fact, this idea is one of the myths of gay drug use. The reality is more complex, and depends on a great many individual factors.
Read: Myths and Realities of Gay Meth Use
In terms of overall prevalence, use of a range of substances is especially common among LGBT college students, who experience more negative consequences related to alcohol use than heterosexuals. And despite the fact that research indicates gay male college students have lower rates of binge drinking than their heterosexual counterparts, they have higher rates of ecstasy and marijuana use, and bisexual men are more likely than straight men to have sex without giving or getting consent due to alcohol use.
Bisexual and gay men's substance use rates are similar, except that bisexual men smoke more than gay men, both in terms of cigarettes and marijuana (although they are less likely to smoke pipes or use smokeless tobacco).
Read review: Gay Men and Substance Use
Gay men are also more likely to overuse prescription painkillers, as well as antidepressants and sedatives that have not been prescribed to them.
Lesbian and bisexual women are more likely to use substances than straight women. Bisexual women are particularly vulnerable, They are significantly more likely than lesbians or straight women to smoke tobacco, engage in binge drinking and to use marijuana use, and they are five times as likely than lesbians and four times as likely as heterosexual women to take ecstasy. They are also at increased risk of suicide, and having sex without giving or getting consent due to alcohol use. The difference between lesbian and bisexual women's substance use is much more pronounced then that of gay and straight men.
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Transsexuals are underrepresented in research related to sexual minorities and substance use, and there do not appear to be any studies at present reporting specifically on substance use in transsexual students. However, research has shown that substance use is one factor  -- among many others -- that puts trans people at greater risk of depression.
Sources
Kerr, Dianne L.; Ding, Kele; Chaya, Julie; American Journal of Health Behavior, 2014 Nov-Dec; 38 (6): 951-62. Sex differences in psychosocial correlates of concurrent substance use among heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual college students.
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Khobzi Rotondi, Nooshin Depression in Trans People: A Review of the Risk Factors.International Journal of Transgenderism (INT J TRANSGENDER), 2011 Jul-Sep; 13 (3): 104-16.
 Schauer, Gillian L.; Berg, Carla J.; Bryant, Lawrence O. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse. 2013, Vol. 39 Issue 4, p252-258. Sex differences in psychosocial correlates of concurrent substance use among heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual college students
Students are a high risk group for substance use, both in terms of having greater exposure to substance use, living in a culture where substance use is widely accepted, and in terms of having greater risks of injury, side effects, or other negative consequences of substance use. But there is sub-group of students who research has shown to be at even greater risk than the population of students in general -- those who identify as part of a sexual minority, specifically those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).
Read: What are Sexual Minorities?Â
While lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teens and young adults have higher rates of
alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and related problems when compared to their heterosexual counterparts, these risks are not as straightforward as being part of a sexual minority automatically meaning that LGBT students use more drugs than other students. In fact, this idea is one of the myths of gay drug use. The reality is more complex, and depends on a great many individual factors.
Read: Myths and Realities of Gay Meth Use
Gay and Bisexual Men
In terms of overall prevalence, use of a range of substances is especially common among LGBT college students, who experience more negative consequences related to alcohol use than heterosexuals. And despite the fact that research indicates gay male college students have lower rates of binge drinking than their heterosexual counterparts, they have higher rates of ecstasy and marijuana use, and bisexual men are more likely than straight men to have sex without giving or getting consent due to alcohol use.
Bisexual and gay men's substance use rates are similar, except that bisexual men smoke more than gay men, both in terms of cigarettes and marijuana (although they are less likely to smoke pipes or use smokeless tobacco).
Read review: Gay Men and Substance Use
Gay men are also more likely to overuse prescription painkillers, as well as antidepressants and sedatives that have not been prescribed to them.
Lesbians and Bisexual Women
Lesbian and bisexual women are more likely to use substances than straight women. Bisexual women are particularly vulnerable, They are significantly more likely than lesbians or straight women to smoke tobacco, engage in binge drinking and to use marijuana use, and they are five times as likely than lesbians and four times as likely as heterosexual women to take ecstasy. They are also at increased risk of suicide, and having sex without giving or getting consent due to alcohol use. The difference between lesbian and bisexual women's substance use is much more pronounced then that of gay and straight men.
Â
Transsexuals
Transsexuals are underrepresented in research related to sexual minorities and substance use, and there do not appear to be any studies at present reporting specifically on substance use in transsexual students. However, research has shown that substance use is one factor  -- among many others -- that puts trans people at greater risk of depression.
Sources
Kerr, Dianne L.; Ding, Kele; Chaya, Julie; American Journal of Health Behavior, 2014 Nov-Dec; 38 (6): 951-62. Sex differences in psychosocial correlates of concurrent substance use among heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual college students.
Â
Khobzi Rotondi, Nooshin Depression in Trans People: A Review of the Risk Factors.International Journal of Transgenderism (INT J TRANSGENDER), 2011 Jul-Sep; 13 (3): 104-16.
 Schauer, Gillian L.; Berg, Carla J.; Bryant, Lawrence O. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse. 2013, Vol. 39 Issue 4, p252-258. Sex differences in psychosocial correlates of concurrent substance use among heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual college students
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