Interviewees were asked to describe how their substance use had changed since they became homeless. The impact of becoming homeless on young people’s use of alcohol varied tremendously. The typical response was that their use of alcohol had stayed the same, either through drinking at the same level (n=63) or continuing not to drink (n=17). Similar proportions felt they began drinking more (n=27) or had begun to drink less (n=26). For ten young people a period of homeless had provided them with an opportunity to give up straightaway. Eight respondents explicitly mentioned becoming a problem drinker and then giving up or cutting down. Five young people mentioned that they began drinking alcohol after they became homeless. For those who stated that they drank less, the reasons
given were typically related to having a very low income. For those who stated that they had begun to drink more, a variety of reasons were offered and these included having more freedom to drink, mixing with young people who were heavy drinkers, wanting to forget their problems and to keep warm when sleeping rough.
Whilst for almost half of those who had previously used drugs homelessness had no impact on their use, many noted changes. Patterns of use after becoming homeless varied considerably but can be broadly classified as follows:
● used drugs more frequently (n=29); ● used a greater variety of drugs (n=11) ; ● used drugs less frequently (n=16);
● increased the frequency or variety of drugs used, then decreased again (n=8). Increases in the frequency or variety of drugs used were attributed to a range of factors including changes in company kept, increased availability or boredom. Changes also reflected their need to relax, stay awake when sleeping rough, to protect themselves or forget their problems. A small number stated that being homeless had led to them becoming more dependent or beginning to inject. Problem users in particular said they had used a greater variety of drugs since they became homeless. The minority for whom drug use became less frequent cited reasons such as lack of money, less availability, becoming more responsible and a desire not to become addicted.
The vast majority (n=27) of those who were no longer using drugs had stopped during the time they had spent homeless. All except one of those who had been problem users in the past (n=22) had stopped using drugs, or had given up drugs they found problematic, since they became homeless; two had done so whilst in prison and two whilst in treatment. This suggests that an episode of homelessness can provide an opportunity to give up using drugs.
One-fifth of young people were homeless before they ever used a drug and for one young person drug use and homelessness began at the same time. These young people reported that they began to use drugs after they became homeless predominantly because they were exposed to drugs for the first time or drugs were more available to them and they wanted to experiment, or in one case felt pressured into using them. Other reasons cited were related to the use of drugs to achieve particular effects, for example, forget problems, calm down or increase confidence.
Over half of those who had used heroin (n=37) and crack cocaine (n=34) first used them after they became homeless. Furthermore, 18 per cent (n=12) of heroin users and 14 per cent (n=8) of crack cocaine users had used these drugs in the same year that they became homeless, so it can be reasonably assumed that for some this use occurred after homelessness. Current and former problem drug users showed similar patterns. By contrast 114 (77%) of those who had used cannabis first used it before they became homeless and 25 (17%) had used it in the same year.
Providers thought it perhaps unsurprising that homeless young people became involved in drug use. They referred to how it could be seen as a means of escape, or of numbing pain, and also related it to their perception that drug use has now become a key feature of the adolescent landscape in wider society – increasingly prevalent, and even mainstream. Providers also noted that illegal drugs were easy for most young homeless people to obtain. In terms of service delivery, providers found that some levels of drug and alcohol use impeded effective engagement and work with young people. The most chaotic substance users were also those who were least likely to get re-housed, let alone to be housed only to have tenancies fail.
Health
Homelessness has been implicated in causing, maintaining and exacerbating physical and mental health problems (Grenier, 1996). Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation(Department of Health, 1999) highlighted the need to reduce health inequalities related to homelessness and poor housing. The high levels of current use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs by the young people interviewed indicates that reducing such inequalities must be coupled with a consideration of the effects of substance use on health.
Interviewees were asked to describe the state of their general health31. Almost half of the
sample (46%) described themselves as very healthy or moderately healthy. Over one-third (37%) thought they were of average health, and the remaining 16 per cent saw themselves as unhealthy or very unhealthy.
31. It is important to note that people are likely to describe their state of health as better than it is in reality (Cornwell, 1984).