The Impact Of Drugs On The Homeless
In July 2017, the then Home Secretary asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to commission a programme of work following the publication of the Drug Strategy.
The ACMD’s recently released report, ‘Drug-related harms in homeless populations and how they can be reduced’ states that there is increased risk of problematic drug use associated with people who experience homelessness. Furthermore, there is a higher rate of drug-related deaths, infections among people who inject drugs, and multiple morbidities.
People who experience homelessness and use substances have particularly complex circumstances and additional risks that require intensive long-term support. An integrated health, social care, and community care approach to the recovery and housing needs of people who are homeless would provide the optimal model of service delivery. This must include a focus on safe, stable housing and evidence-based harm reduction initiatives.
Recommendations from the report include:
- Housing policies, strategies and plans across the UK should specifically address the needs of people who use drugs and are experiencing homelessness by: recommending evidence-based housing provisions, such as Housing First; enabling collaboration across departments and agencies to ensure these interventions have a chance to succeed.
- Services at a local level must be tailored to meet the specific needs of substance users who are currently experiencing, or have recently experienced, homelessness – including evidence-based and effective harm reduction and substance use treatment approaches with the capacity, resource and flexibility to reach them. Services need to consider people who are experiencing multiple and complex needs and adopt psychologically-informed approaches.
- Substance use, mental health and homelessness services to use evidence-based approaches such as integrated and targeted services, outreach, and peer mentors to engage and retain homeless people in proven treatments such as opiate substitution treatment.
- Service providers should be aware of the levels of stigma experienced by people who are homeless and are engaged in substance use treatment or who choose not to engage due to the experiences of stigma and oppression they have had. Respect, choice, dignity and the uniqueness of the person should be at the core of the design and delivery of the service provision in respect of substance use and homelessness services.
- The workforce in substance use and other services which have contact with the homeless need to have skills in dealing with complexity and in retaining homeless drug users in treatment.
You can download the full report here.
