The social context of homeless women's alcohol and drug use.
BACKGROUND
Substance use poses a significant threat to the health of women, and homeless women are more likely to use alcohol and drugs than other women. Addressing risk factors in this population requires a focus on the social context of substance use among homeless women.


METHODS
Participants were 445 homeless women who were randomly sampled and interviewed in shelter settings about the characteristics of their personal networks. Binomial logistic regressions predicted days of binge drinking and of using marijuana, crack, cocaine, and methamphetamine or other amphetamines in the past 6 months.


RESULTS
Homeless women with a greater proportion of heavy alcohol users in their personal networks had greater odds of engaging in binge drinking, and women with a greater proportion of drug users in their networks had greater odds of using marijuana, cocaine, crack, and methamphetamine or other amphetamines. Women with a greater proportion of individuals in their networks that they had met in school or through work had lower odds of marijuana, cocaine, and crack use.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest the importance of structural solutions in addressing homeless women's alcohol and drug use, including greater access to treatment and recovery support for alcohol and drug problems as well as depression, and enhancing employment and educational opportunities for homeless women.
Wenzel
Suzanne L
SL
University of Southern California, School of Social Work, 669 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411, USA. swenzel@usc.edu
Green
Harold D
HD
Tucker
Joan S
JS
Golinelli
Daniela
D
Kennedy
David P
DP
Ryan
Gery
G
Zhou
Annie
A
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014930:Women; D055815:Young Adult