The Homelessness And Substance Abuse

People who are living on the streets tend to rely on drugs and alcohol to help them deal with their situations. After so long, the drug and alcohol problem could escalate into an addiction. Drug and alcohol abuse can be such a huge risk within the homeless community because the taker most likely will not have the means to treat the addiction and usually has no motivation to do so (The National Coalition for the Homeless 1). People who are homeless, like anyone else, will usually begin with gateway drugs such as marijuana, but as their need and dependence on the drug grows stronger and stronger, it can lead to other, harder drugs such as meth and heroin. A drug addiction could lead to even more prominent problems in homeless life that could go unresolved and potentially

The widespread of the crack cocaine in the 1980 also increased homelessness. Many individuals suffering from homelessness also suffer from many different type of drug addictions. It is estimated that 40 % of homeless people are dependent on alcohol and 25% on other drugs. Alcoholism is increasingly being recognized as the most pervasive health problem for homeless. In addition homeless alcohol dependent individuals have a higher prevalence of other psychiatric disorders and more impaired in their social and vocational functioning. Alcoholism and the behaviors coupled with it have a huge influence on physical health. Majority of studies conducted on homelessness and drugs

Homelessness as a result of deinstitutionalization in the US increased dramatically, tripling in 182 cities over the court of the 1980s (Bagenstos, 2012). In addition, mental health and substance abuse is a major problem in across the country because of homelessness. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,20 to 25% of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness (DMHAS, 2014). Consequently, mental illnesses disrupt people’s ability to carry out key aspects of daily life, such as self-care and household responsibilities. As a result of these factors and the stresses of living with a mental disorder, people with mentally illnesses are much more likely to become homeless than the general population (Karger, & Stoesz, 2014). Even if homeless individuals with mental illnesses are provided with housing, they are unlikely to achieve residential stability and remain off the streets unless they have access to continued treatment and services. In Connecticut there are a number of housing options that are in place like supportive housing. Research has shown that supported housing is effective for people with mental illnesses (DMHAS, 2014). Unfortunately, in Connecticut, lack of funding is a significant barrier to the successful implementation of supported housing programs. Because of homelessness people cycle between street corner, jail cell and hospital beds, in addition the homeless who are

Substance abuse is often a cause of homelessness. A high percentage of homeless people struggle with substance abuse, but addictions must be considered as illnesses and demand a great deal of treatment, counseling, and support to be able to

Researcher Didenki and Pankratz identified in the year of 2007, that alcohol abuse is more prevalent in the older generations while drug usage is more common in the young ones on the street. Substance abuse could be a reason behind someone’s homelessness. People spend lots of money to obtain this high that they receive from drugs or alcohol. This could be a problem some lose their jobs. Some already have a hard time paying their bills and this creates more problems. Alcohol and drug addiction ruins family and friend relationships. Research shows that if it is not a cause to their homelessness it is often an affect. When people suffer from hardships they often turn to other things to get that temporary high. It is like an escape from their problems. This unfortunately suffers ties and makes it harder for a person to find jobs. Addictions are very difficult to quit, making it a reason why individuals end up on the street for a long time. (Substance abuse and homelessness. (2009, July

Although the numbers of abusers is over half of the homeless population, there is an explanation to the high percentages. Levinson added that alcohol is generally seen as an adaptation to life on the streets and a way for the homeless to cope with their difficult situations (Encyclopedia, 9). After reviewing the statistics of substance abuse among homeless persons, it is safe to say the homeless population has portrayed an image of negativity towards alcohol and drugs, and will continue to live with this image until the rate of numbers decreases and the minorities are shown the attention they need.

Cities increasingly grapple with homelessness, while facing budget cuts to various services, but the failure to tackle homelessness creates more problems. While there are homeless people who are on drugs, some are there because housing is expensive and they have no reliable sources of income. Homelessness may result in the city spending more on welfare in a never ending cycle without finding a solution to homelessness. There are various factors associated with the risk of homelessness, including individual factors like those fleeing domestic abuse, and even those who can longer earn a living because of health conditions and disabilities. The problem of homelessness is further compounded when the homeless suffer mental health issues and alcohol or drug dependence (Benston, 2015). Homelessness is a problem that affects even the youth, and stakeholders ought to work together to tackle the problem, as city officials, and residents are the audience who should be concerned with the problem at the local level.

Substance abuse is often the cause of homelessness among individuals in the United States. The Substance

Drug abuse problems are continuing to rise in the United States. One reason for this rise is the increased availability of both illegal and prescription drugs. Drug abuse has many negative consequences, and one of the most common results is homelessness.

Judith Herman’s Trauma and Recovery was an amazing read because it tackles the question of “What does it actually mean to be traumatized?” Every single person, no matter how old, has experienced some level of fear— especially those of us who live in NYC! Whether it’s a yellow cab running a red light as you cross 56th Street, the aggressive homeless man on the 6 train who can’t accept the fact that you don’t have any spare change to give, or that time you decided to have street meat for dinner and were stuck on the toilet for the remainder of your night, we can all identify the ways in which our body responds to moments of distress. You may break out into a sprint, your heart beats against your chest as you sweat profusely, and you might even shed tears. In those moments, your entire existence becomes focused around the perceived life or death situation.

Homelessness and substance abuse are both increasingly problematic issues in the United States, but combine the two and that makes for an even greater social problem. I chose to write about both topics based on how homelessness and substance abuse are becoming more and more prevalent in my community as well as substance abuse playing a very large part on the person I am today. There are a lot of stigmas that follow both the homeless and the substance abuser and I wanted to find out if there is an economic, social, geographic, correlation that potentially put the normal person “at risk” of becoming homeless as we well as abusing any substance(s), is there are treatment options of the homeless population, as well as what can be done to assist both the homeless person and the drug addict to fulfill life’s basic needs. According to Skinner (2005) “ the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty estimated that nearly 3 million people were homeless in the past year across the United States”.

​Homelessness and substance abuse are often two problems that continue to be linked together. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (2011), research conducted in the past five years indicates that about 50% of those who are homeless have co-occurring substance abuse problems. Along with co-occurring substance abuse problems, there continues to be other problems such as treatment access to those who are homeless. In this paper we will explore research on the homeless population in relation to substance abuse, and effective interventions on an individual level.

The United States spends over a billion dollars each year to assist homeless persons to find permanent supportive housing. Federal programs provide funding for specific sub-groups with the idea that providing housing for these groups will end the national problem. Without continued analysis of the social construction that hinders the homeless population, funding will not reach the target destination resulting in misplaced effort. This paper provides an informational and critical analysis of homelessness in the United States and the relationship between the number of homeless persons and multiple other factors. A study of the linear regression concludes that poverty and housing units are the two variables that interpret the fluctuations in the homeless count. Given this information, there is a need for further research in order to mitigate future increases in the homeless population.

Even though substance abuse can be a cause of homelessness by being an addict who uses all their finances to support their unhealthy habits, it can also be an effect. Often times it is a way for the homeless to cope with their struggles. It is possible that they might consume these liquids as a way to ignore their misfortunes and blocking out their reality. (Gomez, Thompson, et.al, 2010, Para 2), states that, “Drug use is a common approach to numbing the daily experiences of life on the street and alleviating the stress of street life and the negative emotional effects of traumatic experiences. The stress resulting from sleeping outdoors and in public places may be alleviated or eased by using drugs and alcohol to keep warm and suppress hunger”

The term “Psychological trauma” refers to damage wrought from a traumatic event, which that damages one’s ability to cope with stressors. “Trauma” is commonly defined as an exposure to a situation in which a person is confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to self or others’ physical well-being (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Specific types of client trauma frequently encountered by which therapists and other mental health workers frequently encounter in a clinical setting include sexual abuse, physical , or sexual assault, natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, domestic violence, and school or/and work related violence (James & Gilliland, 2001). Traumatic