Summary: Substance Abuse Among Homeless Youth

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

​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.

Homeless youth face an abundance of challenges, especially if they are on their own, such as finding food, shelter, income, and potential medical expenses. Some youth experience additional hardship by facing the effects of abuse they endured at their previous place of residence. According to the National Conference of State Legislators (2013) 46 percent of runaway and homeless youth reported physical abuse, 38 percent reported emotional abuse, and 17 percent reported being forced into unwanted sexual activity by a family or household member. Therefore, the chances of emotional vulnerability are high.

Years after the National LGBTQ Task Force released their report calling LGBTQ youth homelessness an epidemic, these youths are still fighting each other for limited resources. Unfortunately, LGBTQ youth still do not have access to services that respect their identities. National

In youth homelessness these children, adolescents and even young adults are being exposed to many dangerous drugs, alcohol, and people.

Homeless youth are a standout amongst the most underestimated gatherings in our general public. Numerous specialists recognize much more elevated amounts of different issue practices among these adolescent contrasted with their non-homeless associates. The current study analyzed the utility of social capital in foreseeing issue practices among homeless youth.

Youth homelessness can be define as young individuals, ranging from age 12 to around 25, who are without any support from their families, and are either living on the streets or at a shelter. There are often “referred to as “unaccompanied” youth.” (National Coalition for Homelessness (NCH), 2007). Unaccompanied youths can be categorized as runaway-homeless youths, throwaways, and independent youths. Runaway- homeless youths are youths that leave home without any parental permission. Youths that leave their homes because parents encourage them to leave are categorize as throwaways. The final classified as independent youths who leave home because of family conflicts or other issues. (Aratani, 2009).

A Pathways Project study found that two out of three homeless people in the country suffer from a form of chronic mental illness for which they need treatment (Wells, 2009). Secondly, socioeconomic adversity includes shortages such as low education, job loss, and eviction (Bradford, 2009). Lastly, traumatic experiences such as domestic violence causing psychological trauma are a predisposition to homelessness (Bradford, 2009).

33,000, this is the number of homeless that live on the streets in Canada and 8,000-11,000 of those people are youth in the age range of only 16-24 years of age. This number has increased and grown bigger by the days due to social and economic factors and coming up with a solution becomes more complicated. Many teens become homeless because of hardship in their life or addiction and mental/psychical disabilities, which affects the integrity of that person. This essay will explain the factors of how youth end up on the streets and the harmful effects it can cause and how Canada reacts and helps this problem. The world is discovering how the population of youth on the streets is growing and their trying make many

The first three sets of theory incorporated the levels, shifting levels of identities shaped by outside agencies for LGBT youth. Another social factor that impending on young sexual minorities are the threats of poverty. These threats cause LGBT youth to experience vulnerability and detriment to their identities. Corliss et al. research validates that statement. In their article, “High Burden of Homelessness Among Sexual-Minority Adolescents: Findings From a Representative, Massachusetts High School, Sample,” they review the prevalence of homelessness in LGBT and heterosexual adolescents (Corliss et al. 1683). Their findings include: 40% LGBT student in the Massachusetts

According to research on the homeless population, a break in relationships with others, especially family members, is usually a contributing factor to ones homelessness (Bruhn, 2011). In addition, being new to the area, trying to afford a lifestyle of drug use, and having a criminal record, Interviewee 1 was unemployed and had no money to afford housing or any of his basic necessities.

Homeless Hub has realized that LGBTQ2 youth are overrepresented in the homeless population. Between 25 and 40 per cent of homeless youth identify themselves as LGBTQ2. City of Toronto Street Needs Assement confirmed that 20 per cent of youth in shelters identified as LGBTQ2, which is almost twice the number of any other age group in shelters. They know that LGBTQ2 youth are more prone to be homeless because of homophobia and

Homeless adolescents often have a greater number of physical and mental health problems than their housed counterparts. They are more

Homelessness can be caused by drug abuse and drug abuse can also be an implication of homelessness. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “A survey by the United States Conference of Mayors found that 68 percent of cities reported that substance abuse was the largest cause of homelessness for single adults. Substance abuse was also reported as one of the top three causes of family homelessness by 12 percent of cities” (Opioid Abuse). One study showed that drug addiction and overdose put veterans at the highest risk for homelessness and another study showed that twenty five percent of the homeless people surveyed said that using and abusing drugs was the main reason they were homeless (Opioid Abuse).

Females who are homeless are likewise at more serious danger of violence and sexual manhandle and are frequently constrained by hurtful adolescent who encounters vagrancy impacts on numerous human rights, including the privilege to recreation and play, the privilege to instruction, the privilege to the most astounding achievable standard of wellbeing and improvement and the privilege to survival (Violence, harassment and bullying and homelessness, 2008). Savagery, badgering, and separation are key components of the experience of vagrancy for LGBTI individuals. Global research has demonstrated that Adolescent encountering vagrancy that is sex and additionally sex differing experience the ill effects of higher rates of rape and abuse. They likewise