Substance Use Patterns and Harm Reduction Needs Amongst Vermont Queer Community
Wondrasek, Tommy
Wondrasek, Tommy
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Abstract
Background: The goal of our project was to analyze and compare access to resources, sense of community, healthcare access, and more between stimulant users, non-stimulant users, and opioid users. To better understand substance use and stigma within a local queer community, we adapted an existing survey from the Pride Center of Vermont (PCVT) to emphasize substance use. Methods: The survey was administered via REDCap and disseminated through partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs), harm reduction service providers, federally qualified health centers, and student-led queer groups. We used a chi-squared analysis to compare substance use patterns and practices, stigma experiences, healthcare needs, and community connection among people using stimulants, opioids, or neither, as well as across demographic subgroups. Results: We found a marginally statistically significant difference in reports of safety concerns/discrimination/hate crimes depending on opioid use (p=.0518) and marginally significant relationships of race, transgender identity, and counseling needs to stimulant use (p<0.08, p<0.09, and p<0.17, respectively), as well as differences in sense of belonging between people using opioids, stimulants, or neither (p<0.15). Conclusions: These findings underscore the critical role of stable funding for CBOs and the importance of community-embedded research. Results were limited by the closure of our community partner, PCVT. This loss restrained our outreach capacity and likely resulted in underrepresentation of individuals using opioids or methamphetamines and those experiencing housing insecurity/homelessness. Future studies would benefit from collaboration with multiple CBOs with established trust across diverse community niches, as well as from sustained public investment and emergency funding mechanisms to prevent interruptions in essential services.
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Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Medical School Student
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Poster
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Medicine
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Larner College of Medicine
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Clinical Science