Bisexuality and Substance Use

Abstract

Purpose of review: This article highlights an urgent need to better understand the substance use disparities affecting bisexual people. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) have made calls for research to identify risk factors for adverse health outcomes, including substance use behaviors, among bisexual people. Despite growing interest in this area, our understanding of why bisexual people are at increased risk for substance use remains limited. Recent findings: Today, an increasing percent of the U.S. population identifies as bisexual. The literature consistently shows higher rates of substance use and resulting consequences among bisexual people relative to both heterosexual and gay/lesbian people. Thus, it seems an opportune time to review research on substance use in bisexual populations. Summary: In this article, we review this literature and identify important findings in several key areas to guide future work including heterogeneity in substance use, distal and proximal risk factors, and intersectional forces that influence elevated substance use patterns among bisexual individuals.