Homelessness and drug use: evidence from a community sample.
BACKGROUND
Questions regarding the nature of the association between drug use and risk of homelessness remain unresolved and have important policy implications.


METHODS
To address this issue, data are presented from a 2001 community survey in Chicago, Illinois that collected information regarding histories of drug use behaviors and homeless experiences from 627 adults aged 18 to 40. Using covariance structure analyses, two alternative models of the association between drug use and homelessness were evaluated: social selection versus social adaptation processes.


RESULTS
These findings provide evidence consistent with the social adaptation perspective, as early homeless experiences were predictive of subsequent drug use behavior in this community sample. Social selection processes were observed in bivariate, but not in multivariate, analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of homelessness as a risk factor for drug use initiation should be further explored. Efforts to prevent homelessness may also contribute to the prevention of drug abuse.
Johnson
Timothy P
TP
Survey Research Laboratory, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA. timj@uic.edu
Fendrich
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*