title: Homeless drug users and information technology: a qualitative study with potential implications for recovery from drug dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Having access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) is a prerequisite to meaningful participation in society.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper seeks to: i. explore the engagement of homeless drug users (HDUs) with ICTs and ii. discuss the findings with reference to recovery from drug dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was qualitative and longitudinal, involving data collected in 2012-13 via 52 semi-structured interviews with 30 homeless drug users (25 men; five women). Participants were recruited from 17 hostels in two English cities. Interview data were analyzed using Framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HDUs had access to ICTs, used ICTs, and wanted to engage with them more. Experiences of digital exclusion were a function of participants' inability to afford ICTs, the relatively cheap and poor quality technology available to them, limited knowledge about ICTs, and lack of support in using them. That HDUs were often unable to take full advantage of technology because they had nobody to explain what their devices could do or to show them how they worked was ironic given that using ICTs to (re)establish and maintain relationships were functions of technology that HDUs particularly liked.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physical, human, cultural, and social capital of HDUs influenced their access to, and use of, ICTs. Equally, ICTs were themselves an important recovery resource. Services and others should endeavor to provide HDUs with easy access to good quality technology, as well as offers of support and education so that all individuals have the knowledge and confidence to make optimum use of the technology that is available to them.
authors.affiliation: 1Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry , London , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neale
authors.forename: Caral
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stevenson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D066270:Social Capital; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: computers; drug use; homelessness; hostels; information and communication technologies; mobile phones; qualitative; recovery; recovery capital; the Internet