Sexuality and the use of psychoactive substances in the Neapolitan LG community

This paper proposes the results of a survey conducted on the Neapolitan LG (gay, lesbian) community in 2008. As is well know the sexual orientation has an important role in the study of social behavior (Graglia, 2002) because there is a greater risk of gays and lesbians developing a problematic consumption of alcohol or other psychoactive substances. The theoretical framework of this study is the concept of Minority Stress proposed by Ilan Meyer (2006). In Meyer's opinion the homosexuals are a different minority because are exposed to additional stressor (internalized homophobia, experiences of discrimination) resulting from social factors – prejudice and discrimination – and psychological factors linked to their private life and intimate relationships. The consumption of psychoactive substances can be seen as a strategy to reduce feelings of difference and loneliness and the sexual inhibitions that result from them (Colcher, 1982); the use of psychoactive substances, therefore, is a way to overcome the fears and above all about the sexuality. Starting from these observations, the object of this work is the use of psychoactive substances in gay and lesbian population in Neaples, and the relationship between this behavior and the perception of the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. With the results of the survey it was possible to define the preferences, styles, places and reasons of the use of psychoactive substances, the impact of this use on the sexual activity and the perception of the risk among the psychoactive substances users.