Substance use among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) youth is higher compared to their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts. This is reportedly due to negative or adverse experiences that stem from discrimination based on their gender or sexual identities. Research shows that substance use often decreases when youth can identify environments that are supportive of their lived experience.

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Office of Addictive Diseases and Office of Behavioral Health Prevention, the Center of Excellence for Children’s Behavioral Health, and Theater Delta collaborated to design and implement a two-part webinar series and theater-based trainings and workshops across the state for program staff and partners of the Recovery Support Clubhouses, Intensive Residential Treatment facilities, and Prevention Clubhouses.

The Center of Excellence serves as the convener and facilitator of this work after years of collaboration with DBHDD’s youth and adolescent substance use programs. The Center of Excellence formed a community advisory board of professionals with expertise to guide the work and collaborated with an interactive theater company to design and implement trainings and workshops for Georgia’s DBHDD youth and adolescent substance use providers and their partners.

Behavioral Health

Workforce Development

Research and Evaluation