Women, Homelessness, And Substance Abuse: Moving Beyond the Stereotypes

Abstract

This study examined the characteristics of homeless women with sub stance abuse problems. Data were collected on a sample of 323 home less substance abusers. First, 49 women and 274 men were compared to demonstrate distinct problems and treatment needs of the women. Results showed that the women were more likely than the men to abuse drugs, but less likely to receive substance abuse treatment. In addition, women spent more time in doubled‐up living arrangements, and were more likely to receive outpatient psychiatric treatment. Second, two subgroups of women were compared: those who had been homeless for 6 months or less, and those who had been homeless longer than 6 months during their lifetime. The women who had been homeless longer were less educated, younger when they first became homeless, and were more likely to abuse alcohol, to have been assaulted, and to have attempted suicide. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.

Two-Year Follow-Up of AIDS Education Programs for Impoverished Women

“…Furthermore, social support acts as a resource providing encouragement to the recipient, and as such, promotes health protection, a sense of belonging, and feelings of personal efficacy (Geissler, Bormann, Kwiatkowski, Braucht, & Reichardt, 1995;Metsch et al, 1995;Nyamathi, 1994).…”

Homeless Women and Hazardous Drinking: Screening Results in a Primary Health Care Setting

“…There is evidence that women shy away from treatment referrals because of the confrontational approaches and traditionally male-orientated models in the substance abuse field. [19][20][21] The current study was designed to test the feasibility of implementing systematic screening for alcohol use among women seeking primary health care at a large HCH program in Boston, MA, and to describe the rates and demographic correlates of women identified as having hazardous drinking (inclusive of hazardous drinking and abuse or dependence). The IRB of the University of Massachusetts Medical School reviewed and approved the study.…”

New Visions of Me: Finding Joy in Recovery With Women Who Are Homeless

“…Many homeless women with serious mental illness do not receive care, due either to their lack of perception of having mental health problems or to a lack of services designed to meet their needs or both (Folsom et al, 2005;Rich & Clark, 2005). Further, Geissler, Bormann, Kwiatkowski, Braucht, and Reichardt (1995) found that even though homeless women are more likely to have problems with drugs than are homeless men, they experienced only one-fourth the number of substance abuse treatment episodes as their male counterparts. As a result of these issues, findings show that women perceived social service agencies as less supportive than did homeless men (Stovall & Flaherty, 1994).…”