BeLonG To Youth Services is the national organisation supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI+) young people in Ireland. Since 2003, BeLonG To has worked with LGBTI+ young people to create a world where they are equal, safe and valued in the diversity of their identities and experiences. The organisation also advocates and campaigns on behalf of young LGBTI+ people, and offers a specialised LGBTI+ youth service with a focus on mental and sexual health, alongside drug and alcohol outreach.

Drug and Alcohol Service

From our direct experience working with LGBTQ+ young people and from national and international research, we know that LGBTQ+ youth are using drugs at higher rates than the general youth population. According to the Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland research, a combined 81% of LGBTQ+ 14–24 year olds had taken drugs (not for medical reasons). This compares to 40% of the general youth population in Ireland aged 12–25 in the MyWorld national study of youth mental health in Ireland by UCD and Jigsaw1. Belong To provides vital support for LGBTQ+ youth, who face a higher risk of drug and alcohol misuse due to factors like family rejection, bullying, isolation, stigma and discrimination.

The Drug and Alcohol Support Service is funded by the North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Taskforce. This service supports LGBTQ+ youth facing drug and alcohol challenges, operates under a harm reduction model and equips youth workers and drug-related services with the skills and capacity to provide inclusive support and services.