Orlando Nearly 30% of Orange County’s lesbian, gay or bisexual high school students have attempted suicide, compared to just 6.8 percent of heterosexual students.
New data showing LGB students are at significantly higher risk for suicide, substance abuse and other risky behaviors was released at a town hall meeting at Rollins College on May 19. The survey was taken in spring of 2013, when researchers polled 1,658 students from 19 Orange County high school campuses. The Zebra Coalition, Orange County Public Schools, Orange County Drug-Free Coalition and Orlando Police Department hosted the town hall meeting where the data was presented. Police Sgt. Jim Young led the panel.
Young reported that when compared to their heterosexual peers, substance abuse among LGB teenagers skyrockets. Eight out of 10, or 83%, of LGB students drank alcohol on one or more days of their life while 60% of heterosexuals had. More than half of LGB youth have used marijuana and twice as many LGB students used prescription drugs than heterosexual students. Lesbian, gay and bisexual teenagers also proved more likely to practice unsafe sex and smoke cigarettes.
“For the first time we have data that shows the harsh reality our lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are facing in our community,” said Dexter Foxworth, executive director of The Zebra Coalition. “This is a community-wide issue and one that our Central Florida LGBT+ community needs to take an active role in. Every person and every sector of our community can play an active role in reducing substance use among youth.”
Brett Burlone, clinical manager at the Zebra Coalition, pointed out that this is the first time there is unique data for the local community.
“We’ve always known based on national surveys and data that LGBT youth have high substance abuse rates,” Burlone said. “And for the first time in Orange County schools, we actually have data to back that up and show that.”
The survey also showed gay, lesbian and bisexual youth are at higher risk for external dangers. They are four times more likely to be threatened or injured with a weapon on school property and are at higher risk for rape, bullying and violence from someone they’re dating. The panel also discussed solutions to these issues, including community support, parental communication and violence-prevention policies in schools.
Brenda Christopher-Muench, a health education resource teacher who oversaw the survey, said that the district has adopted an anti-bullying campaign.
“We see that schools can assist by implanting clear policies and procedures, by considering activities designed to prevent violence and designed to help our youth who are gay, lesbian and bisexual through gay-straight alliance clubs,” Muench said.
The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a part of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with representatives from state and local departments.
