Examining HELP USA shelter client histories & addiction patterns, their experiences with recovery programs, and the challenges to and potential solutions for an effective shelter-based substance use program
Overdose remains the leading cause of death in the homeless population.
HELP USA’s Research team, applied the grounded theory method (Charmaz, 2006; Urquhart, 2013) to life history interviews of 19 clients in two HELP USA single adult male shelters, to understand the socio-economic dynamics of shelter-based substance use problems with the aim to recommend measures to prevent overdoses from occurring.
This study posits that the policy currently focuses on overdose death prevention over its other components that promote recovery, such as the provision of harm reduction education. Read the full report here.
