title: Missing data in substance abuse research? Researchers' reporting practices of sexual orientation and gender identity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals are at higher risk for substance use and substance use disorders than heterosexual individuals and are more likely to seek substance use treatment, yet sexual orientation and gender identity are frequently not reported in the research literature. The purpose of this study was to identify if sexual orientation and gender identity are being reported in the recent substance use literature, and if this has changed over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PsycINFO and PubMed databases were searched for articles released in 2007 and 2012 using the term "substance abuse" and 200 articles were randomly selected from each time period and database. Articles were coded for the presence or absence of sexual orientation and gender identity information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants' sexual orientation was reported in 3.0% and 4.9% of the 2007 and 2.3% and 6.5% of the 2012 sample, in PsycINFO and PubMed sample articles, respectively, while non-binary gender identity was reported in 0% and 1.0% of the 2007 sample and 2.3% and 1.9% of the 2012 PsycINFO and PubMed sample articles. There were no differences in rates of reporting over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual orientation and gender identity are rarely reported in the substance abuse literature, and there has not been a change in reporting practices between 2007 and 2012. Recommendations for future investigators in reporting sexual orientation and gender identity are included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States. Electronic address: Annesa.Flentje@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Annesa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flentje
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117, United States.
authors.forename: Cristina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bacca
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr, Missoula, MT 59812, United States.
authors.forename: Bryan N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Cochran
mesh_terms: D000068598:Data Accuracy; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000639:trends*; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Bisexual; Gay; Health disparities; Lesbian; Substance abuse; Transgender