LGBTQIA+ Community and Addiction 

The LGBTQIA+ community experiences more discrimination, social stigma, and a lack of support from family members and society than other people. These factors, combined with common co-occurring disorders such as clinical depression, stress, and anxiety which are experienced at higher levels by the LGBTQIA+ community, can increase substance use.

Statistics show that LGBTQIA+ adults are more than twice as likely to use illicit drugs and almost twice as likely to have a substance abuse disorder. Health care discrimination can be another factor in addiction for those who are LGBTQIA+. Health care discrimination experienced by queer community members is part of our “why” in forming M-Care, serving the community, and providing a safe and affirming option for primary and gender-affirming care in the Wichita metro. 

Wichita Addiction Data 

According to an article by the Wichita Beacon, the number of Kansans dying from opioid misuse or overdose is increasing. Fentanyl is becoming a new public health crisis because people are not only abusing fentanyl but other drugs are laced with the powerful, deadly drug. Fentanyl and opioid deaths have increased sharply between 2010 and 2019.

Alcohol use disorder is also a problem with 14.5 million people ages 12 and older. Alcohol use also contributes to overdose deaths as an estimated 22.1 percent of overdoses are related to alcohol and prescription opioids. Annually, 95,000 people in the United States die from alcohol-related causes.

When to Get Help

Two major signs of addiction include when substance use harms a person, or when it harms their relationships. Secondly, it is clinically considered addiction when a person is unable to stop using the substance despite the harm it is causing, and despite attempts to quit. No matter where someone is in their addiction, there is hope. Reach out for help. Speak to your primary care provider, or schedule a visit with our kind and affirming team to discuss your options.

Resources for Substance Abuse Recovery

In Sedgwick County, there are many local resources including more than a dozen treatment facilities. Some of these programs require insurance, but several do serve uninsured patients. In addition to treatment facilities, there are support groups available across the state, you can visit supportgroupsinkansas.org for a list of groups to find one near you.

COMCARE in Sedgwick County also offers addiction treatment services to those 18 and older. You can find more information about that program here.

Get Help

If you are struggling with substance abuse, talk to your healthcare provider, including the team at M-Care. Contact us to make an appointment to discuss your options.

Amanda Mogoi Named a Healthcare Hero

We are incredibly proud of M-Care co-owner and provider, Amanda Mogoi for being named a Healthcare Hero by the Wichita Business Journal and receiving a Community Outreach Award. Amanda was nominated for her work to provide safe and affirming care for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

While some health care providers do gender-affirming care, this is the focus at M-Care, which makes it unique in our community. “The reason M-Care exists is because many LGBTQIA+ patients have faced discrimination in health care settings including being deadnamed, misgendered, and even proselytized. As I began to understand how underserved the community is, my passion grew for serving this community and giving them access to a safe and affirming health care home,” Amanda said.

M-Care provides sex-positive and gender-affirming health care as a core part of its mission. M-Care frequently partners with community organizations such as Positive Directions and Community Walgreens for STI testing, treatment, and access to free or low-cost HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications. M-Care is proud to offer HIV treatment and received a grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in 2021 and 2022 to provide Ryan White case management for patients with HIV. Amanda speaks at various events around Wichita and Kansas, even providing testimony to the Kansas State Legislature to promote safe and inclusive care.

“When I became a nurse and later a nurse practitioner, I dedicated my life to serving all people with equity and love.  I’ll never forget the first transgender patient that I ever saw.  I was working in an immediate care clinic and when I walked in the room, the patient was shaking in fear, not knowing who was going to walk in the door and how he was going to be treated.  When I asked him how I should address him, he looked shocked.  Not long after, I overheard other staff members discussing how providing gender-affirming care to minors should be considered child abuse. From that time, I decided that I would see any trans patients who walked into that setting. I knew that we had to do better and that starts with me.”

Congratulations, Amanda and thank you for all you do for M-Care and the LGBTQIA+ community!

Trans Day of Visibility

Trans Day of Visibility is coming up on Thursday, March 31 and to celebrate, M-care is hosting a community barbecue! Trans Day of Visibility is an annual, nationwide event that celebrates transgender people and highlights the discrimination that trans people face every day. The community barbecue, hosted by M-Care and sponsored by our friends at Baseline Creative, will include community partners from across Wichita, music, a brief rally, and food. Those who plan to attend are encouraged to RSVP to be entered to win a prize package at the event. 

Trans Day of Visibility was started in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall-Crocker of Michigan. Crandall-Crocker wanted an event that was specifically for trans people that wasn’t focused on the murder of trans people such as Trans Day of Remembrance. She created Trans Day of Visibility to celebrate the members of the trans community who are doing wonderful things in the community. 

Although founded in the United States, the event is celebrated worldwide. Additionally, all major LGBTQIA+ rights organizations recognize Trans Day of Visibility as a special day to celebrate members of the trans community. 

Unfortunately, the rights of transgender people in our state, and across the country, are under attack. With more anti-trans bills popping up across the nation, there has never been a more important time than now for Trans Day of Visibility. We hope that the community will join us in celebration! 

Our community barbecue will start at 6 p.m. with a brief rally for trans rights. Food, music, and booths featuring our community partners are scheduled from 6:30-7:30. Community partners who are joining us include: 

If you’re trans or are an ally for trans people, please join us! We would love to have a great showing of support for the trans community. 

Hormone Replacement Therapy Services

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a treatment commonly used for transgender men and women as part of the transition process. Hormone therapy is used to alter hormone levels to match one’s gender identity.

Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy

The two types of hormone therapy include feminizing hormones, also known as estrogen, and masculinizing hormones, also known as testosterone.

Generally, those who seek feminizing hormone therapy experience distress due to their gender identity differing from their sex assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria is significant distress related to the desire to be of another gender, which can include the desire to change primary and/or secondary sex characteristics.

Benefits of Hormone Therapy

Receiving hormone therapy is one way a trans person can transition. Additionally, hormone replacement can be part of a pre-surgical plan during the transition process.

Hormone therapy can help make gender dysphoria less severe, improve the overall quality of life, and it can reduce distress about one’s physical appearance.

Other uses for HRT

Furthermore, Hormone Replacement Therapy can be used to help balance estrogen and progesterone levels in patients who go through menopause. There are a variety of additional reasons why your doctor might prescribe supplementary sex hormones.

Consult with your healthcare provider about HRT services

As with all medical procedures and medications, HRT is not suitable for everyone. Talk with your doctor or healthcare provider about the risks, benefits, and determine if HRT is a good option for you.

Gender-affirming HRT services at M-Care Healthcare

At M-Care Healthcare, we are proud to offer gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy for transgender individuals of all ages.

Our bioidentical hormone replacement therapy services include labs, medication, as well as ongoing monitoring, puberty blockers, and primary care.

For those who want to take the steps needed to medically transition, our team will walk with you through every step of gender affirmation treatment. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Why You Should Have a Primary Care Doctor

Do you have a Primary Care Doctor? A Primary Care Physician (PCP) specializes in Family Medicine, providing comprehensive care for patients. In addition, Primary Care Physicians serve patients of all ages, including newborns, teens, adults, and elderly individuals.

Benefits of Having a Primary Care Physician

There are various benefits to having a Primary Care Doctor dedicated to your routine medical care. For example, your Primary Care Physician will develop a relationship with you to understand your health conditions and concerns. Further, they promote overall wellness and preventative care, in addition to pain management and care for chronic conditions. Most importantly, the patient/doctor relationship is built on trust and integrity.

How Do I Choose a Primary Care Provider?

It’s important to choose a provider who listens to you and understands your needs. If you don’t have a referral from a friend or family member, here are some things to consider when researching your options.

  1. First, start by looking at providers in your network. Don’t have health insurance? No problem! M-Care Healthcare believes everyone deserves access to healthcare. Therefore, we offer a flat fee of $50.
  2. Read the reviews! Rely on reviews from Google, Facebook, your insurance network, or other platforms.
  3. Schedule a consultation with your prospective provider to meet with them, ask questions, and to decide if they are a good fit for your needs.

Primary Care Spotlight: M-Care Healthcare

At M-Care, we believe that healthcare is a human right. As a result, we are committed to providing our community with high-quality, affordable healthcare services. We also provide care to underserved communities, including those who are low-income, immigrants, or members of our LGBTQ+ community.

Searching for a dedicated Primary Care Doctor? Call us at 316.461.0339 to schedule a consultation with M-Care Healthcare today!

M-Care Receives KDHE Ryan White Program Grant

Amanda Mogoi is passionate about providing health care for everyone—especially those in marginalized communities such as immigrants or members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

In July 2020, Amanda and her husband, Vincent, took M-Care, their three-year-old side business that focused on house calls to the next level, and opened a clinic in Wichita that provides access to affirming and affordable health care with an emphasis on the LGBTQIA+ community. Recently, M-Care was awarded a grant from the KDHE Ryan White Grant Program to provide case management for those living with HIV, improving coordination between patient resources, and providing helpful and positive educational messaging about HIV and resources for patients

The Ryan White Grant has allowed M-Care to hire a full-time case manager for patients with HIV. The case manager is coordinating resources for patients and ensuring they are aware of services and resources that are available to them. “In Wichita, we have amazing organizations working on case management for those living with HIV. However, there is a need for more case managers to relieve the caseload and provide even more thorough services especially related to HIV medication coordination,” Mogoi said.

In 2018, in Sedgwick County alone, 200 of every 100,000 people were living with HIV. M-Care’s focus on the LGBTQIA+ community makes them uniquely qualified to help fill the gap in Wichita and Sedgwick County for those living with HIV. “Our practice is built on affirming, non-judgmental health care,” Mogoi said. “As we continue to grow, we want to help build bridges to community resources for our patients and close up gaps. We are excited to be able to provide this next level of care and support thanks to the Ryan White Grant Program.”