Exploring transgender and gender diverse people’s alcohol and other drug use-related support seeking experiences
Tracks
Monarch Room - In-Person Only
| Thursday, May 28, 2026 |
| 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM |
Overview
Jack Mcwilliam, Rainbow Affinity
Details
Three Key Learnings
1. Understanding the positive aspects of AOD for trans people.
2. Understanding how trans people in Australia seek support for their AOD use.
3. Understanding how these experiences be improved.
1. Understanding the positive aspects of AOD for trans people.
2. Understanding how trans people in Australia seek support for their AOD use.
3. Understanding how these experiences be improved.
Speaker
Mr Jack Mcwilliam
Social Worker
Rainbow Affinity
Exploring transgender and gender diverse people’s alcohol and other drug use-related support seeking experiences
Abstract
Introduction: Some trans peoples’ AOD consumption is positive, facilitating social/community connection, self-exploration, self-rejuvenation. Notwithstanding, many trans people with AOD concerns do not seek support.
Methods: Led by trans AOD clinician/researchers, supported by cis-ally AOD clinicians/researchers and iterative consultation with trans AOD peer workers/researchers, a national online cross-sectional survey comprising fixed-option and free-text response items assessing propensities, barriers, past experiences and perceived utility of seeking AOD support from 26 formal (e.g., inpatient/outpatient, ‘12-steps’), informal (e.g., friend/s, partner/s), digital (e.g., social media, phone-helpline) sources was open April-July 2025. Qualitative survey items were supplemented with two interviews and one focus group with 5 trans people, eliciting trans peoples’ recommendations for developing trans-affirming harm reduction messaging.
Results: Among 114 trans people (Mage=32.9), AOD support was most commonly sought from friend/s (48%), partner/s (19%), internet searches (17%). Though friends tended to be useful, experiences of support-seeking from partner/s and internet searches varied significantly. Hesitations toward AOD support-seeking stemmed predominantly from fears of having one’s AOD experiences misunderstood(40%), judgement from loved ones (38%), pressure to change one’s AOD use (29%) fear of losing connected with friend/s or community/ies (23%). Qualitative responses discussed navigating tensions of managing AOD use expectations of friend/s, partner/s, community settings, retaining social connectedness and avoiding isolation, while acknowledging the ‘downside’ potential of AOD use and making sure you are using AOD for the right reasons.
Discussions and Conclusions: Trans people seek AOD support from informal (e.g., friends, partner(s) and online sources over mainstream formal services, for better (e.g. reduced social isolation) or for worst (e.g., lack of explicit support for reducing AOD use).
Implications on communities, practice, policy and/or First Nations communities: Accounting for the nuanced role of friends, partner(s), and community settings in the lives of trans people is key to improving trans-affirming harm reduction.
Methods: Led by trans AOD clinician/researchers, supported by cis-ally AOD clinicians/researchers and iterative consultation with trans AOD peer workers/researchers, a national online cross-sectional survey comprising fixed-option and free-text response items assessing propensities, barriers, past experiences and perceived utility of seeking AOD support from 26 formal (e.g., inpatient/outpatient, ‘12-steps’), informal (e.g., friend/s, partner/s), digital (e.g., social media, phone-helpline) sources was open April-July 2025. Qualitative survey items were supplemented with two interviews and one focus group with 5 trans people, eliciting trans peoples’ recommendations for developing trans-affirming harm reduction messaging.
Results: Among 114 trans people (Mage=32.9), AOD support was most commonly sought from friend/s (48%), partner/s (19%), internet searches (17%). Though friends tended to be useful, experiences of support-seeking from partner/s and internet searches varied significantly. Hesitations toward AOD support-seeking stemmed predominantly from fears of having one’s AOD experiences misunderstood(40%), judgement from loved ones (38%), pressure to change one’s AOD use (29%) fear of losing connected with friend/s or community/ies (23%). Qualitative responses discussed navigating tensions of managing AOD use expectations of friend/s, partner/s, community settings, retaining social connectedness and avoiding isolation, while acknowledging the ‘downside’ potential of AOD use and making sure you are using AOD for the right reasons.
Discussions and Conclusions: Trans people seek AOD support from informal (e.g., friends, partner(s) and online sources over mainstream formal services, for better (e.g. reduced social isolation) or for worst (e.g., lack of explicit support for reducing AOD use).
Implications on communities, practice, policy and/or First Nations communities: Accounting for the nuanced role of friends, partner(s), and community settings in the lives of trans people is key to improving trans-affirming harm reduction.
Biography
Sasha is a researcher at The Matilda Centre with a focus on understanding and preventing mental ill-health and substance use among gender and sexuality diverse young people and, is passionate about trans community-owned research for and by trans communities. Sasha is the Co-Chair of the Gender and Sexuality Diverse AOD Network at NADA , and an Ethics Committee Member for ACON, Family Planning Australia, and Community Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Research Network (CMHDARN). She has published 11 papers, with a further 11 under review and six in prep. She has received 22 awards/prizes for her research.
