Health & Wellness Wednesdays

We have come dangerously close to accepting the homeless situation as a problem that we just can't solve.

In 2017, there were approximately 554,000 homeless people in the United States. The US homeless population is increasing yearly, particularly in younger age ranges. Tragically, homelessness and addiction go hand in hand. The end result of homelessness is often substance abuse, and substance abuse often contributes to homelessness. The National Coalition for the Homeless has found that 38% of homeless people are alcohol dependent, and 26% are dependent on other harmful chemicals.

Often times, addiction is a result of homelessness. The difficult conditions of living on the street, having to find food, struggling with ill-health, and being constantly away from loved ones creates a highly stressful state of being. Individuals suffering from homelessness may additionally develop psychiatric conditions in response to the harsh lifestyle of feeling threatened by violence, starvation, and lack of shelter and love.

Homelessness, Mental Disorders, and Addiction

Reports suggest 33% of homeless people battle mental illness. Sources cite mental illness as another major cause of homelessness, which often leads to drug and alcohol abuse. Common mental disorders the homeless struggle with include:

• Bipolar disorder
• Paranoia/Delusions
• Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (particularly high in homeless veterans)
• Major depressive disorder
• Severe anxiety

In addition to suffering mental illness, homeless individuals suffering mental conditions are more likely to be victims of assault, further needing the comfort they temporarily find in harmful substances. Homeless individuals suffering difficult mental and emotional conditions may find it convenient to self-medicate with harmful substances as well. The combination of mental disorders and substance abuse is known as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. While it may seem that difficult mental conditions can be suppressed by drugs and alcohol use, this actually creates a destructive cycle of dependency.

Women, Homelessness, and Addiction

Homeless women suffer unique gender-based trauma, contributing to the higher amounts of drug use with homeless women than men. While 30% of homeless people overall suffer mental illness, the rate is significantly higher in female populations. 50% to 60% of homeless women suffer mental and emotional disturbances, often pre-dating their homelessness.

Many homeless women become homeless in response to escaping pasts laden with domestic violence or sexual trauma; some are victims who fled the hard grip of sex trafficking. These factors, along with co-occurring disorders from homelessness, have contributed to the fact that approximately one-third of homeless women have abused heroinand crack cocaine.

Young Adults, Homelessness, and Addiction

Many homeless youths and young adults are victims of substance abuse. Youths aged 12 to 17 are at greater risk of homelessness than adults, and many homeless youths have been the victims of severe abuse. 71% of missing, runaway, throwaway, or abducted children reported a substance abuse disorder.

Factors contributing to such youth homelessness substance abuse:

• Growing up in a homeless family
• Genetics of substance abuse
• Family abuse
• Maladaptive coping mechanics to stress
• Co-occurring disorders
• Early use of substance abuse (using at a very young age)
• Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
• Running away from home

Homeless youths with substance abuse issues are much more vulnerable to long-term substance abuse and untreated co-occurring disorders which follow them into adulthood.

The LGBTQ Community, Homelessness, and Addiction

LGBTQ populations suffer from high rates of drug and alcohol abuse. They also suffer minority stress, stress which stems from internalized feelings of cultural/social exclusion and fuels their chemical dependency. Unfortunately, members of the LGBTQ community also have a 120% higher risk of homelessness.

Homeless members of the LGBTQ community are not immune to drug and alcohol abuse. More members of this community face depression, PTSD, anxiety and suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide), and self-medicating with substance when homeless. According to Psychology Today, homeless LGBTQ members “have the highest number of illicit drug use.” Homeless lesbian women (and lesbian women in general) report higher numbers of alcohol abuse in response to the internalized disorders and minority stress. When homeless, they are more subjected to violence and sexual assault compared to their heterosexual counterparts. In particular, homelessness is more common in the transgender community, as members of the transgender community often struggle with job discrimination.

Connections between homelessness and addiction are unfortunate manifestations of cause and effect, but hope is not lost. Medical professionals at rehab facilities are sensitive to the needs of their patients. Contact a treatment provider and discover how you or a loved one suffering can take control and change their life.

Dealing with Addictions

What do you think is the best way to help someone trying to escape homelessness?