title: Hepatitis C virus infection, substance use and mental illness among homeless youth: a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Homeless youth are at a high risk of substance abuse, mental illness and blood-borne infections, such as hepatitis C. In this paper, we review the implications of these conditions, discuss the unique challenges faced by homeless youth, and explore potential strategies for harm reduction and intervention in this vulnerable population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interventions that combine youth-centered, service-based care, street outreach, case management, and motivational interviewing with integrated health services such as hepatitis A/B vaccination, and mental health and substance abuse programmes, are presented as innovative approaches to address the healthcare needs of homeless youth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recommendations for age-appropriate interventions and further research are made.
authors.affiliation: UCLA School of Nursing, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1702, USA. anyamath@sonnet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Adeline M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nyamathi
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christiani
authors.forename: Folasade
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Windokun
authors.forename: Tonia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strehlow
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shoptaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D018453:Homeless Youth; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*