Unmet drug and alcohol service needs of homeless people in London: A complex issue

J Fountain; S Howes; J Strang

doi:10.1081/JA-120017378

Unmet drug and alcohol service needs of homeless people in London: A complex issue

J Fountain, S Howes, J Strang

Drugs Research Group

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Little research has been conducted on the drug use of those who sleep rough (on the streets) in the United Kingdom (UK). During 2000, to fill in the gaps in the knowledge base, researchers at the National Addiction Centre, London, carried out a community survey using a structured questionnaire amongst 389 homeless people recently or currently sleeping rough, in order to investigate their met and unmet drug and alcohol service needs. In total, 265 (68%) had a need for drug services and 97 (25%) for alcohol services. Over half of the current drug users (170/324, 52%) and 88 (33%) of the 264 current alcohol users wanted help with their substance use, but few were currently accessing the appropriate services, other than needle exchanges. The challenge for services is to build these potential clients' motivation to accept health-conferring intervention.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	377 - 393
Number of pages	17
Journal	Substance Use and Misuse
Volume	38
Issue number	3-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1081/JA-120017378
Publication status	Published - 2003

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abstract = "Little research has been conducted on the drug use of those who sleep rough (on the streets) in the United Kingdom (UK). During 2000, to fill in the gaps in the knowledge base, researchers at the National Addiction Centre, London, carried out a community survey using a structured questionnaire amongst 389 homeless people recently or currently sleeping rough, in order to investigate their met and unmet drug and alcohol service needs. In total, 265 (68%) had a need for drug services and 97 (25%) for alcohol services. Over half of the current drug users (170/324, 52%) and 88 (33%) of the 264 current alcohol users wanted help with their substance use, but few were currently accessing the appropriate services, other than needle exchanges. The challenge for services is to build these potential clients' motivation to accept health-conferring intervention.",

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AB - Little research has been conducted on the drug use of those who sleep rough (on the streets) in the United Kingdom (UK). During 2000, to fill in the gaps in the knowledge base, researchers at the National Addiction Centre, London, carried out a community survey using a structured questionnaire amongst 389 homeless people recently or currently sleeping rough, in order to investigate their met and unmet drug and alcohol service needs. In total, 265 (68%) had a need for drug services and 97 (25%) for alcohol services. Over half of the current drug users (170/324, 52%) and 88 (33%) of the 264 current alcohol users wanted help with their substance use, but few were currently accessing the appropriate services, other than needle exchanges. The challenge for services is to build these potential clients' motivation to accept health-conferring intervention.

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Unmet drug and alcohol service needs of homeless people in London: A complex issue

Abstract

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