Elevated use of alcohol and tobacco is a major public health risk in the United States (McGinnis & Foege, 1999; Murray, Istvan, Daniels, & Beaudoin, 1998; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2014). Using substances at increased rates of frequency and quantity negatively impacts relationships with family and friends and the ability to sustain various life roles. Many past studies on substance use among individuals who report having same-sex partners frequently use male populations as study samples (Lee & Crawford, 2007). In addition, a majority of research conducted on males who report samesex partners is conducted in relation to public health research around the health implications of drug use (Jerome & Halkitis, 2009).Little research exists similarly focusing on substance use among women who report same-sex partners. One practical challenge that comes with studying females who report same-sexpartners is that rarely are sexual practices asked about in research on substance use that does not exclusively focus on individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
As such, the population of women who have sex with women (WSW) is often an invisible minority. While we know, for example, that certain risk factors for problematic substance use exist, such as income level, age, and co-occurring mental health issues, we do not know much about the relationship between these factors in substance use within populations of WSW. This paper is intended to contribute to the current literature and knowledge base within the counseling profession. Specifically, this work seeks to address topics related to multicultural counseling and counseling related to alcohol, drug, and tobacco usage.
The American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics (2014) requires counselors and counseling students to work with a vast array of potential clients who may differ significantly from themselves. For example, these counselor and client differences can include one or several factors such as age, race, ethnicity, ability status, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. As part of building up counselor competency to work with diverse individuals, counselors and counseling students are required to seek out relevant literature as it relates to appropriate assessment, intervention, and advocacy for their clients (ACA, 2014)
