ODU Gets $1million Grant to Study Lesbian Use of Alcohol

No, I am not making this up.  Old Dominion University has received a federal grant from National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study alcohol abuse among lesbian and bi-sexual women.

From the federal grant,

“Sexual minority women (i.e. women who self-identify as lesbian or bisexual) report more heavy drinking, more alcohol related problems, and higher rates of alcohol use disorders as compared to heterosexual women. Young sexual minority women are especially vulnerable.”

One theory is lesbians may be more prone to alcohol abuse due to discrimination and prejudice against them.  NIH said this is the first study of its kind for this “under-served, at-risk population”.  It is their hope  the study will improve “their (lesbians) health and well-being.”

More here.