The recovery space is hectic, and it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day work of caring for people with addiction. While that hands-on care is essential, it’s just as important to step back and look at the bigger picture to understand what’s working and where we can do better.
That’s why we collected data on every client who came through our doors between 2020 and 2024. By identifying patterns and evaluating the quality of care we provide, we’ve uncovered valuable insights that will shape the future of LGBTQ addiction treatment at La Fuente and beyond. Keep reading to discover what we learned and how it’s already making a difference in the way we approach treatment.
Who Does La Fuente Serve?
Our data set is small, with just 357 clients over four years. Still, it’s meaningful, especially given how little outcome data exists for LGBTQ people in addiction treatment. Collecting this data wasn’t just about tracking numbers. Rather, it was about understanding who comes through our doors and how we can better support them.
Here’s a closer look at who we serve:
Gender Identity
- 75% cisgender men
- 23% trans and non-binary
- 7% trans women
- 7% trans men
- 9% non-binary
- 2% cis women
Racial Makeup
- 58% white
- 25% Latino
- 9% Black
Age Distribution
- 49% are aged 26–40
- 24% are aged 18–25
- 19% are aged 41–50
- 8% are over 50
Substance Use
- 53% use crystal meth
- 27% use alcohol
- 4% use opiates
- 8% use cannabis
- 6% use GHB and/or benzos
Additionally, 30% of our clients are HIV+, and 20% are Kaiser patients.
Completion Rates
Our overall completion rate is 67%, while 33% leave against medical advice (AMA) or are administratively discharged.
While this is a solid rate for addiction treatment programs, the data reveals meaningful differences between demographic groups and substance use patterns. Understanding these trends helps us identify where additional support might be needed to improve retention.
Highest Completion Rates
Some groups showed notably high completion rates, which may reflect greater motivation or more effective support systems:
- Black clients had the highest completion rate at 74%.
- Trans men also had a high completion rate at 71%.
- Clients aged 41–50 were the most likely to complete treatment, with an 80% completion rate.
Lowest Completion Rates
Certain groups faced more challenges in completing treatment:
- Trans women had the lowest completion rate at 50%.
- Looking at completion by substance type, opiate users had the lowest completion rate (38%).
Additional Insights
- Cis men, our largest demographic group, had a completion rate of 69%, which is consistent with the overall program average.
- HIV status had no impact on completion rates.
- Kaiser clients performed similarly to non-Kaiser clients.
What Do the Findings Tell Us?
The completion data reveals meaningful patterns that give us insight into which groups are thriving in treatment and which may need more targeted support. Understanding these trends helps us adapt our approach to improve outcomes for all clients.
Black clients had the highest completion rate at 74%
- Black clients may face more external pressure to succeed in treatment, especially as part of a marginalized community within the LGBTQ population.
- Many Black clients receive wraparound care, including access to a psychologist and therapist through Kaiser, which can reduce stress and improve treatment engagement.
- La Fuente may offer Black queer clients a sense of belonging they might not find elsewhere.
Trans men had the second-highest completion rate at 71%
- Trans men tend to feel more comfortable in La Fuente’s predominantly cis-male environment, where they are accepted and respected.
- Trans men are more likely to use downers like alcohol and benzos, which are often associated with fewer behavioral outbursts compared to stimulant use.
Clients aged 41–50 had the highest completion rate at 80%
- Clients in this age group may have more life experience and motivation to engage in recovery.
- They might also have more stable social and financial support systems, which can positively impact treatment outcomes.
- Increased self-awareness and coping skills could contribute to greater commitment to treatment.
Trans women had the lowest completion rate at 50%.
- Trauma and discrimination can create additional emotional and psychological barriers to recovery.
- Many trans women engage in sex work, which can lead to additional trauma and instability.
- Trans women are more likely to use stimulants like crystal meth, which can make emotional regulation more difficult.
- The treatment environment may feel less affirming, as most staff and clients at La Fuente don’t identify as female.
Opiate users had the lowest completion rate at 38%
- The intense withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with opiate use may make it harder for clients to stay in treatment.
Cis men had a completion rate of 69%, consistent with the overall program average
- As the largest demographic group, their completion rate reflects the general success rate of the program.
HIV status had no impact on completion rates.
- This suggests that stigma or health-related challenges tied to HIV do not significantly affect treatment retention.
What’s Next for La Fuente and Addiction Treatment?
The insights from our data collection are already helping us shape the future of treatment at La Fuente. By understanding who thrives in treatment and who faces more challenges, we can make targeted changes to improve outcomes for all clients.
Curriculum updates will target high-risk groups
- We’re adding more emotional regulation training, especially for crystal meth users.
- Early intervention efforts will focus on trans women and younger clients, who face unique challenges in completing treatment.
We’re continuing to collect data to improve clinical care
- La Fuente is working with Vista Research to gather more detailed information from our clients about their emotional health, self-harm behaviors, eating disorders, and quality of relationships.
- This data will help us adjust treatment strategies and develop more effective interventions to improve early recovery support.
Sharing our insights could improve LGBTQ care beyond La Fuente
- We will share our findings to help other treatment centers develop more informed and effective care strategies for LGBTQ clients.
Looking Ahead at La Fuente
While our sample size was small, it represents a meaningful step forward in understanding addiction recovery within the LGBTQ community. La Fuente remains committed to learning from this data, adapting to client needs, and finding new ways to support lasting recovery. We’re excited to use these insights to strengthen our program and help even more people thrive in recovery.
If you or a loved one is looking for informed LGBTQ care, contact us at (323) 464-2947.
