Emerging trends in drug use and high risk behaviours among the homeless

NDARC Staff

Lucy Burns, Katherine Mills, Maree Teesson, Sarah Larney, Elizabeth Conroy

Other Investigators

Kevin Rozzoli, Kay Elson and Gavin Frost (Haymarket Foundation)

Rationale

Homeless populations typically have elevated levels of drug and alcohol dependence and mental and physical illnesses. These co-morbidities suggest complex challenges for service providers working with this group. However, little work has been conducted on identifying the health and substance use patterns of homeless people.

Aims

This study aims to determine the mental health, physical health and drug use patterns of homeless people in metropolitan Sydney; examine the challenges issues currently present to clients and service providers alike; and to provide the framework for a large-scale cross sectional study of these issues in rural and metropolitan NSW.

Design and Method

A cross-sectional design has been employed in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 106 male and female clients from an inner-city service for homeless, substance-using adults. The interview included questions on homelessness history, physical health, mental health, substance use, health service utilisation and violent victimisation in the previous 12 months.

Output

One paper has been accepted for publication; two additional papers are currently being prepared.
Larney, S., Conroy, E., Mills, K., Burns, L., & Teesson, M. (in press). Factors associated with violent victimisation among homeless adults in Sydney, Australia. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

Funding

NSW Health Drug and Alcohol Program Research Grants