Associations of sexual identity change and identity-attraction discordance with symptomatic alcohol and other drug use.

These findings highlight important sex differences and suggest that the period of transitioning to a sexual minority identity is a particularly vulnerable period for symptomatic alcohol and other drug use. For females, incongruent sexual identity and attraction is also a risk factor. Interventions that assist individuals during this transitional period and during a time when identity and attraction are incongruent, may reduce symptomatic substance use during this period.