The development of alcohol and tobacco use in aging LGBTQIA+ communities in Canada

Little is known about the development of alcohol and tobacco use in LGBTQIA+ communities in Canada as they age. LGBTQIA+ adults are minoritized, which puts them at risk of minority stressors (e.g., victimization, discrimination). These stressors can produce psychological distress and mental health symptoms, contributing to alcohol and tobacco inequities. We will examine the role of minoritized sexual and gender identities in the development of disparities in substance use as people age. We will explore these patterns using a developmental psychopathology framework, which focuses on how vulnerabilities interact with environmental factors across the lifespan to produce risk, can help explain links between LGBTQIA+ identities, victimization, mental health, and longitudinal analytic methods.