OBJECTIVES: This study estimates the extent and distribution of specific drug problems among homeless adults. METHODS: A countywide probability sample of 564 homeless adults received structured interviews that included a standardized assessment of substance use disorders. RESULTS: Two thirds of the sample (69.1%) had a lifetime history of a substance use disorder (including abuse of or dependence on alcohol [52.6%] or drugs [52.2%]); half had a current (52.4%) substance use disorder (including alcohol [38.8%] or drugs [31.3%]). Current drug disorders were higher among respondents who were younger, homeless longer, or sampled from the city of Oakland, Calif. Alcohol use disorders were higher among men than among women; surprisingly, drug use disorders were not. CONCLUSION: Rates of current drug use disorders for homeless adults were more than eight times higher than general population estimates. However, estimates of drug problems among homeless adults vary as a function of case ascertainment and sampling strategy. Estimates based only on samples from urban areas may overestimate drug problems among the area's larger homeless populations.
OBJECTIVES: This study estimates the extent and distribution of specific drug problems among homeless adults. METHODS: A countywide probability sample of 564 homeless adults received structured interviews that included a standardized assessment of substance use disorders. RESULTS: Two thirds of the sample (69.1%) had a lifetime history of a substance use disorder (including abuse of or dependence on alcohol [52.6%] or drugs [52.2%]); half had a current (52.4%) substance use disorder (including alcohol [38.8%] or drugs [31.3%]). Current drug disorders were higher among respondents who were younger, homeless longer, or sampled from the city of Oakland, Calif. Alcohol use disorders were higher among men than among women; surprisingly, drug use disorders were not. CONCLUSION: Rates of current drug use disorders for homeless adults were more than eight times higher than general population estimates. However, estimates of drug problems among homeless adults vary as a function of case ascertainment and sampling strategy. Estimates based only on samples from urban areas may overestimate drug problems among the area's larger homeless populations.
Authors: Thomas P O'Toole; Jeanette L Gibbon; Barbara H Hanusa; Paul J Freyder; Alicia M Conde; Michael J Fine Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Marjorie J Robertson; Richard A Clark; Edwin D Charlebois; Jacqueline Tulsky; Heather L Long; David R Bangsberg; Andrew R Moss Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Karin M Eyrich-Garg; John S Cacciola; Deni Carise; Kevin G Lynch; A Thomas McLellan Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2008-05-26 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: John Song; Melanie M Wall; Edward R Ratner; Dianne M Bartels; Nancy Ulvestad; Lillian Gelberg Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2008-09-18 Impact factor: 5.128