Little is known about public sector service use by homeless persons with alcohol and other drug (AOD) disorders. There has been almost no documentation of the different ways that local systems have attempted to cope with this special population or the challenges and barriers they have faced in doing so. To learn more about these issues and the network of providers serving homeless persons with AOD disorders we are conducting a series of organizational case studies as part of an NIAAA-funded study. These qualitative case study data will complement client-level data collected through an NIMH-study on contact with public sector service agencies by a sample of 797 homeless persons in Houston, Texas. The additional case study component has two basic purposes: (1) to enhance our understanding of the types of AOD treatment available to homeless individuals with AOD disorders and (2) to understand the organization and delivery of services to homeless adults with AOD disorders across a broad spectrum of human service sectors (criminal justice, mental health, physical health, social services, alcohol and drug) in which they currently receive services. These case study data inform our understanding of how specific sectors are interacting with regard to this population. In light of these case study data and the previously-collected client-level data, we discuss specific barriers to developing a more coordinated and broader cross-system response to managing the care of homeless adults with AOD disorders.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Keywords: Drug Abuse Treatment, Homeless
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.