The Effects Of Homeless Conditions, Drug Abuse, And Mental Illness

According to the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), disease was prevalent in the newly homeless. This population accessed health care services at high rates in the year before becoming homeless. Significant improvements in health status were seen over the study period as well as a significant increase in the number who were insured (American Journal of Public Health, 2012). The homeless in Overtown face a variety of risks and barriers to their health. Firstly, a good number of the population suffers from mental illness, they suffer from a range of mental health problems from depression, personality disorders, schizophrenia and many more. Most are unable to treat their mental

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

Health ←and→ mental health troubles reflected an extensive range of concerns centered on chronic health problems, substance abuse, psychosocial, clinically diagnosed problems, self-esteem problems. Substance abuse was noticed as a major obstacle to conquering homelessness addictive behaviors in the same way as alcoholism, drug abuse were frequently identified in

Of the homeless, 33% are due to domestic violence and family issues, such assaults, family breakdowns, or just for time away from the family. Whereas, only 3% are homeless due to mental illness or substance abuse. There is a common myth that all of the homless people on our streets are ‘druggos’, but this is not true. Over half of all homeless people are men. Younger homeless men are less likely to seek assistance while they are homeless compared to evquivalent homeless females of whom tend to seek assistance on a higher rate. Homelessness can have massivley serious effecs on mental health, physical health and wellbeeing which can lead to mental and physical illness. There have been studies to prove that men whom have become homless due to abusing drugs or from mental illness are more likley to be homeless foe a longer period of time, compared to those who become homeless from other causes. There is also proof that suggests that males aged 25 and over will more than likely develop substance abuse issues due to being homeless, some have taken this as their way to cope and adapt with their new

“Depression is a disease that controls an individual’s outlook on life and their ability to deal with circumstances.” Depression is characterized with low self-esteem as well as “a loss of interest in activities… [which] has an incapacitating [effect] on the individual’s ability to relate to others.” Depression can cause homelessness or vice versa. “One of the strongest sources of depression among the homeless community [is] their feelings of isolation and loneliness. Feelings of isolation and separation from others” can lead to “rooflessness, such as parental neglect.” (Philipps, 2012)

The pathways to homelessness model attempted to determine if mental illness was a component for becoming homeless (Sullivan, Burnam, & Koegel, 2000). The study of this model examined the childhood of

Canton et. al. (2005) used a longitudinal study to determine the risk factors of homelessness. This study included four hundred and forty-four men and women (18-65 years old) who volunteered to be a part of the interview study. The participants were interviewed every six months for a total of eighteen months. During this time psychiatric assessments were performed, as well as analysis of coping skills, family and social history. Two methods, the Cox Regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis were used to examine homelessness duration and baseline

According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, only 16% of the single adult homeless population suffer from some form of mental illness and according to the National Coalition to the Homeless, The increasingness of homelessness over that past two decades can not be explained by addiction alone

​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 information I gathered from the research was that the major factors that contribute to homelessness are mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse. I also learned that many individuals need to develop skills and seek treatment to learn how to break the patterns which lead to cyclical or generational homelessness (Morris, 1997).

Homelessness is the state of having no home. Some background information that is necessary is where they come from and what their life was like before they became homeless. It is important to understand this issue because when you're homeless you don’t know where you're going to sleep or what you're going to eat. You’re just sitting or standing there waiting for someone to notice you. They walk past not even looking at you. What you were hungry like Maurice from “A simple act”? People will allow you just to sit there and starve.

Understanding how both individual and structural factors contribute to and sustain homelessness is a critical factor in successfully addressing homelessness. All to often service providers blame homeless individuals for the circumstances they are in, making assumptions that substance abuse or other irresponsible behaviors have caused the problems leading to the individual to become homeless. Hoffman and Coffey (2008) suggest, “the perpetuation of homelessness is not internal to the homeless individual as many claim, but rather may be embedded in the service industry itself, which subjects both clients and providers to bureaucratic forms of authority and experiences of disrespect.” While not all homeless people suffer from mental illness or substance abuse, all of

There are a lot reasons why people are homeless. I will include three causes. Poverty is

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).

Homelessness tends to be a huge problem in America. Many people continue to live in the streets and reasons for their homelessness varies. This can also lead to other issues in their lives. For instance, diseases, drug abuse, mental illness, and even death. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness in 2014 there was an overall 600,00 homeless population and of that number, there were an estimated 85,000 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.