|
Understanding Homelessness
Alcohol and Drug Use - Cause or Consequence?
Drug dependence rises steadily the longer a person remains homeless [1]
- Incidence of drug taking among homeless people in Dublin is high with surveys showing figures for drug dependency ranging from 25% to 45%. [2]
- Alcohol remains the primary drug of choice among the homeless population however they have been some changes recently with alcohol use becoming a part of more complex drug using repertories/patterns. [3]
- Estimates suggest that between 29% and 51% of people who are homeless are drinking above safe levels. [4][5][6][7]
- Homeless drug and alcohol users tend to use more frequently, increased quantities and in less safe ways then their housed counterparts. [8][9][10]
- The first national study of drug use amongst the homeless population found higher rates of current heroin (34%), cocaine (25%) and crack use (7%) among those sleeping rough than among either hostel dwellers or B&B occupants. Over half of the rough sleeping sample were problematic alcohol users. [11]
- A study carried out for Merchants Quay Ireland found that 66% of homeless clients reported that their drug use had changed since being out of home, the majority stating that they were using more frequently and less safely. 49% of respondents reported sharing injecting equipment. [12]
- Corr found that those sleeping rough or living in a squats are more likely to be heavy/very heavy drinkers. [13]
- Some homeless people experience both mental health problems and problematic drug/alcohol use (dual diagnosis). This makes responding to their needs more complicated. [14][15]
- The majority of drug users report the use of more then one drug (polydrug use). 72% of participants in the study undertaken by Lawless and Corr reported using more than one drug with over 25% of rough sleepers reporting using five drugs or more. [16]
- Drug and/or alcohol use may be initiated to cope with the negative experience of homelessness [17] as argued by Johnson et al "... substance abuse is often a consequence of homelessness as it is often a means of adapting to life on the streets and coping with the stress of homelessness". [18]
SOURCES
1. Fountain, J & S. Howes (2002) Home and Dry-Homelessness and Substance Use in London. National Addiction Centre.
2. O'Gorman, A (2002) Overview of Research on Drug Misuse Among the Homeless in Ireland. Paper presented at the conference "Homelessness and Problem Drug Use-Two Faces of Exclusion. Merchants Quay Ireland, July 2002.
3. Lawless, M & C. Corr (2005) Drug Use Amongst the Homeless Population in Ireland. National Advisory Committee on Drugs & Merchants Quay Ireland
4. Holohan, T. (1997) Health Status, Health Service Utilisation and Barriers to Health Service Utilisation among the Adult Homeless Population of Dublin. Eastern Health Board
5. Cleary, A & G. Prizeman (1998) Homelessness and Mental Health. Social Science Research Center
6. Feeney, A., H. McGee, T. Holohan, and W. Shannon (2000) Health of Hostel-Dwelling Men in Dublin. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Eastern Health Board
7. Lawless & Corr (2005) as cited above
8. Cox, G & M Lawless (1999) Wherever I Lay My Hat- A Study of Out of Home Drug Users. Merchants Quay Project.
9. Corr, C (2003) A Step in the Right Direction. An Evaluation of the Failtiu Information and Advice Service in Pieces of the Jigsaw - Six Reports Addressing Homelessness and Drug Use in Ireland. Merchants Quay Ireland.
10. Lawless & Corr (2005) as cited above
11. Lawless & Corr (2005as above
12. Cox & Lawless (1999) as cited above
13. Corr, C (2003a)as cited above
14. O'Leary, J. 1997. Beyond help? Improving Service Provision for Street Homeless People with Mental Health and Alcohol or Drug Dependency Problems. National Homeless Alliance as cited in Corr, C (2003) A Step in the Right Direction. An Evaluation of the Failtiu Information and Advice Service in Pieces of the Jigsaw - Six Reports Addressing Homelessness and Drug Use in Ireland. Merchants Quay Ireland.
15. OPCS. 1996. Psychiatric Morbidity Among Homeless People. HMSO as cited in Corr, C (2003) A Step in the Right Direction. An Evaluation of the Failtiu Information and Advice Service in Pieces of the Jigsaw - Six Reports Addressing Homelessness and Drug Use in Ireland. Merchants Quay Ireland.
16. Lawless & Corr (2005) as cited above
17. Bessent,J et al (2002) Heroin Users Housing and Social Participation: Attacking Social Exclusion Through Better Housing. Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute
(AHURI).
18. Johnson, T., S.A. Freels, J.A. Parsons, and J.B. Vangeest, 1997. 'Substance Abuse and Homelessness: Social Selection of Social Adaptation?' Addiction: 1997: 92: 4: 437 - 445. HMSO as cited in Corr, C (2003) Engaging the Hard-to-Reach: An Evaluation Of An Outreach Service in Pieces of the Jigsaw - Six Reports Addressing Homelessness and Drug Use in Ireland. Merchants Quay Ireland.
This fact sheet ©Merchants Quay Ireland 2006 |
