Document 2077
 DOCN  M94A2077
 TI    The gay and lesbian client in substance abuse treatment: creating a
       welcoming environment.
 DT    9412
 AU    Hart JE; Victory Programs, Mobile AIDS Resource Team, Boston,;
       Massachusetts.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):386 (abstract no. PD0153). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370498
 AB    OBJECTIVE: Ignorance, prejudice, denial, and stigma all affect both the
       ways in which addicts are perceived by the larger society as well as the
       ways in which addicts perceive themselves. When alcoholics and drug
       addicts are also gay or lesbian, the stigma is intensified and the
       struggles they face are almost overwhelming. This workshop was designed
       to give substance abuse providers a tool to make their work with gay and
       lesbian addicts more effective. METHODS: A five hour interactive
       workshop was designed to assist substance providers in examining their
       KAB related to gay and lesbian addicts. A safe space is created and
       providers participate in a number of interactive exercises in which
       attitudes and beliefs are examined. Sexual identity issues, the impact
       of homophobia on the client, the client's defenses against homophobia,
       the stages of forming a gay and/or lesbian identity and direct treatment
       issues for gay and lesbian clients are also presented, using a didactic
       method. RESULTS: Provider's knowledge about homosexuality is increased,
       attitudes and levels of acceptance are challenged, access to drug
       treatment for gay and lesbian clients is augmented, and client's
       response to treatment is improved. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Changing
       the substance abuse provider's KAB about gay and lesbian clients is just
       as important as changing the client's KAB about him/herself in order to
       increase the gay and lesbian client's access to drug treatment, and to
       sensitize treatment providers so that they are able to respond to
       clients more effectively and compassionately.
 DE    Female  Health Education  Homosexuality/*PSYCHOLOGY  Human  HIV
       Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  *Inservice
       Training  Male  Prejudice  Professional-Patient Relations  *Social
       Environment  Substance Abuse Treatment Centers  Substance Abuse,
       Intravenous/PSYCHOLOGY/*REHABILITATION  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).