Significant differences were found between lesbian and heterosexual women on alcoholism and on the Powerlessness subscale of the Dean. Alienation did not correlate with alcoholism in the lesbian sample. MDMA can induce depression and panic attacks in those who use it. A serious concern is the potential that MDMA may cause long lasting, even permanent neuropsychiatric damage, in particular to serotonin neurons. GHB is a naturally occurring biological substance that has effects similar to alcohol.
Modest doses can cause sleep, and coma.
The clinician working with gay and lesbian people is urged to become aware of these particular substances, as well as other recreational drugs, as well as their dangers, in order to more effectively work with his or her clients. It provides an overview of the special needs of this population, focusing on denial issues, defenses and resistance. Emphasis is placed on the most effective approaches for providing training and ongoing supervision for addiction treatment professionals working with these patients. Gay and lesbian teens are reported to be at greater risk for substance use. Stress mediates this increased risk due to the contradiction of needing to establish an integrated sense of self, while doing so runs the risk of peer and family rejection, fears for personal safety, and the ongoing experience of homophobic remarks and jokes that are common in today's high schools.