Fellowship for Clare Johnson:The Prevalence of Substance Use Disorder in Transgender Adults Over the Last Decade

Several studies have demonstrated that individuals who Identify as LGBTQ experience a greater amount of negative health outcomes. This is partially due to synergistic relationship between environmental factors, societal conditions, and health concerns, otherwise known as syndemic interactions. Notably, this risk is increased for transgender and nonbinary individuals. Individuals are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as substance use, which along with added social stressors, can exacerbate existing health conditions. In this study we aim to determine how the prevalence of SUD in transgender adults, has changed over the last decade compared to those identifying as cisgender. We will be utilizing a retrospective cross-sectional study design and collecting data from Truven Commercial Claims data from 2010 to 2020. The study population will be age 18 and older with a substance use disorder diagnosis (SUDD), who are identified as suspected non-cisgender via an algorithm utilizing International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9 and 10) codes, common procedural terminology (CPT) codes, and National Drug Codes (NDC). The primary outcome of this study will be the rate of SUDD in non-cisgender adults for each year of study. Secondary outcomes include comparing rates of SUDD in non- cisgender adults to cisgender adults and identifying predominant substances of abuse and analyzing trends in diseases related to SUD such as HIV and hepatitis C. Research suggests that tailored treatment programs may be effective in reducing rates of SUD among gender minorities. This study aims to support further research into SUD trends among non-cisgender individuals and the development of tailored SUD treatment programs for transgender persons.