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1. Alcoholism and homelessness – nursing assignment tutor
Alcoholism and homelessnessBibliographyThompson, Ronald, Wall, Melanie, Greenstein,
Eliana, Grant, Bridget and Hasin, Deborah. “ Substance-Use Disorders and Poverty as
Prospective Predictors of First-Time Homelessness in the United States” . American Journal
of Public Health, 103. 2(2013):282-288. Print.According to Thompson, Wall, Greenstein,
Grant and Hasin, many Americans, approximately 3.5 million, experience episodes of
homelessness in a given year. Therefore, it is a public health problem that requires aIDress.
Alcohol and drug related problems are also associated with the problem of alcoholism. The
article investigates on how substance use disorder and poverty increase the risk of the
homelessness. Therefore, this article helps to increase understanding about how alcohol use
or substance use can cause or lead to homelessness. Thus, it lays the foundation for other
researches to build on. This study is relevant to the discussion because it helps in enhancing
understanding some of the measures that can be adopted to alleviate homelessness. One of
the actions that should be taken is to alleviate levels of poverty.Fichter, M., & Quadflieg, N.
Alcoholism in homeless men in the mid-nineties: results from the Bavarian Public Health
Study on homelessness. European Archives of Psychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience,
249.1(1999):34-41. Print.According to this article, homeless has become publically more
visible and as well received a lot of media attention in most of western industrialized
countries. The population of the hopeless people changes often and includes ordinary poor
people who because they cannot afford low cost housing, lose their foothold in society.
Other reasons that cause homelessness are those that alienated from the society because of
their difficulties in getting along with the rest of the members of the society. Alcohol
problem is more deeply rooted in homeless people as compared to the rest of the
population. AIDressing the problem therefore rests with the society, and the need for the
people to embrace people that have social problems.Kolata, Gina. Drug AIDicts Among the
Homeless: Case Studies of Some ‘ Lost Dreams’ . 1989 Retrieved from:
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/30/us/drug-aIDicts-among-the-homeless-case-
studies-of-some-lost-dreams.htmlThis article written by Kolata Gina is about alcohol and
drug aIDiction among the homeless. Various people that have experiences alcoholism
recount their story and how they find themselves homeless. The article therefore helps in
understanding how alcoholism leads people into homelessness. It is also relevant to the
topic of study because it helps in understanding the measures that can be done to reduce
the cases of homelessness brought about by alcoholism. One of the ways that this can be
sorted out is to create awareness about the dangers of alcoholism.McCarty, Den, Argeriou,

2. Margret, Huebner, Robert, and Lubran, Brandet. Alcoholism, drug abuse, and the homeless.
Am Psychol. 46.11(1991):1139-48. Print.In this article, the researchers argue that alcohol
abuse and drug abuse affect approximated at 30% to 40% homeless people. This means that
many of the homeless people resort to alcoholism. Some of them become homeless as a
mechanism to separate from their families and to alleviate stress. To aIDresses this
problem, appropriate policies and intervention between control and rehabilitations should
be put in place. The programs should be suitable for women, men and adolescents. One way
is to offer free housing support for the homeless to support and maintain recovery.
Psychologists can be of great importance in developing of effective programs to help
homeless people manage their alcoholisms. Therefore, the study aIDresses the topic of
study precisely.Amato, Felix, and MacDonald, John.” Examining Risk Factors for Homeless
Men: Gender Role Conflict, Help-Seeking Behaviors, Substance Abuse and Violence.” Journal
of Men’ s Studies, 19.3(2011):227-235. Print.According to Amato and MacDonald, men are
the more vulnerable group among the homeless and continue to struggle with substance
use. The society has failed to support these groups of people in the society. Apart from this,
these men are often reluctant to seek for help and therefore they continue to endure
physical and psychological struggles. This study is credible as it is in-depth, and also
suitable to the area of study. Homeless people are vulnerable, and the government and
stakeholders must come up with amicable programs to help them deal with their alcoholism
behaviors.National Coalition of the Homeless. Substance abuse and homeless.
2009.http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/aIDiction.pdfThis article published by
National Coalition for Homeless aIDresses the problem of alcoholism among the homeless.
Most homeless people are thought to be alcoholic. Most of them struggle with substance
abuse. Substance use such as alcohol is the major cause of homelessness, which contributes
to many people losing their homes. These people have different needs compared to the
general population. They have no families and their most important thing is to survive.
Some of the solution or issues that require aIDress to help homeless people are to provide
them with stable housing and after treatment. Others include per support, daily living and
money management skills training among many others.Personal interview with Mr. John a
former homeless person that was alcoholicIn this interview with John, a former homeless
person, the causes of homeliness are many but the major one is alcoholism. Alcohol intake
causes a person to relinquish his or her responsibilities. It cuts off the family relationships
through absconding of responsibilities and in some occasions it may be as a result of family
abandonment. According to John, it is very difficult to come out of this state especially when
it reaches a situation where a person is aIDicted to alcohol. The little money one gets ends
on alcohol. Nevertheless, with the support from family members, it is very easy for a
homeless person to come out of the situation.IntroductionAlcoholism is a major problem in
society. Many people that are homeless are alcoholic and as well use other drugs. Various
studies have been carried out on homelessness and alcoholism over the years. This paper
delineate on the various issues that need to be aIDressed among the homeless people to
help them deal with alcoholism.According to Thompson, Wall, Greenstein, Grant, and Hasin,
many people in America approximately 3.5 million have experienced episodes of
homelessness. An estimate of 750,000 experience homelessness on any given night (282).

3. The problem of homelessness is of a public concern because it affects the lives of these
individuals. Most of the homeless people use alcohol and other drugs. Most of the first time
homeless people are driven by substance use and poverty. This is therefore a revelation on
the causes of the problem and how this can be alleviated. Homeless individuals can
therefore be aIDressed by first empowering the community. Members of the public must be
empowered to prevent them from falling culprits.According to National Coalition for
Homeless, breaking aIDiction among homeless substance abusers is difficult. Motivation to
stop drinking among these populations may not be fruitful. Homeless people are more
concerned about their survival than personal growth and development, as finding food and
shelter is the highest priority than drug counseling (Fichter & Quadflieg 34). The families
and friends do not engage most of these individuals. Therefore, they require social support
network to enable them recover from the substance aIDiction. Furthermore, even if these
people break their aIDiction to alcohol, it will still be difficult for them to remain sober as
they live on streets where they can easily access harmful substance. Treatments that focus
on programming are more effective compared to harm reduction strategies. These
programs do not aIDress the possibility of relapse. According to National Coalition for
Homeless, many of the homeless people are not treated (2). There are various barriers that
deter them from accessing treatment, which include lack of health insurance, long waiting
lists, and lack of documentation. This therefore indicates that a lot is required to be
aIDressed by the government if at all the homeless people will get help to manage their
alcoholism. The needs of these homeless persons differ hence programs to aIDress their
concerns should also be created specifically to aIDress the issues that face them.One of the
strategies is to provide the homeless individuals housing during and after treatment. This
will reduce their relapse. Housing opportunities will be able to enhance the strategies and in
the end will help to impact on their lives (Kolata para. 3). In aIDition to housing programs,
they also must be provided with services such as mental health treatment, physical health
care, employment opportunities and education, peer support and daily living and money
management skills training (Thompson, Wall, Greenstein, Grant, and Hasin 282). For
instance, peer sport can be of great help as many of the homeless people may be lacking
social support. If family members and friends come closer to them and show them love, then
it can help to motivate the people and make them to change their behaviors on alcoholism.
Another issue that requires aIDress to enable homeless people change from alcohol taking
is on management of their money and change in attitude (National Coalition of the
Homeless 2). The homeless individuals may be lacking skills in their money management
and this may cause them problem especially when they begin taking alcohol a lot.When it
comes to housing programmes, it should be included with the outreach and engagement of
workers, coupled with a variety of flexible treatment options to select from, and other
services to help reintegrate them into their community (Amato & MacDonald 227). It is
prudent to establish the cause of the homeless. Many of these individuals have diverse
reasons. For instance, an individual who became homeless because of family rejection or
society rejection may not be willing to go back there. Therefore, in such cases, it is noble to
recommend that such individuals are taken to centers that can help them change from their
alcoholism behaviors (McCarty, Argeriou, Huebner and Lubran 1139). The supported

4. housing programs including substance abuse services would help to greater extend
homeless people treat their alcohol aIDictions and reestablish residential stability.In the
personal interview with a former homeless and an alcoholic aIDict, it was established that
disconnect from families contributed to homelessness. Furthermore, people that are
alcoholic have a higher change of becoming homeless. It is also very difficult to rehabilitate
these homeless individuals that are alcoholic (Personal interview). They have become
accustom-med to their new way of life and therefore it requires effective strategies to be
able to get them out of the streets. Using social support is very critical in helping these
people to relinquish their alcoholism and come back to their normal way of life.In
conclusion, various issue need aIDress among homeless persons in dealing with alcoholism.
It is a very challenging problem and requires the effort of various stakeholders and the
society in general. Understanding the circumstances that drive them to homelessness is
important in aIDressing the problem. Various issues are considered in providing them with
treatment such as housing programs, education, per support and social network among
others.Works CitedAmato, Felix, and MacDonald, John.” Examining Risk Factors for
Homeless Men: Gender Role Conflict, Help-Seeking Behaviors, Substance Abuse and
Violence.” Journal of Men’ s Studies, 19.3(2011):227-235. Print.McCarty, Den, Argeriou,
Margret, Huebner, Robert, and Lubran, Brandet. Alcoholism, drug abuse, and the homeless.
Am Psychol. 46.11(1991):1139-48. PrintKolata, Gina. Drug AIDicts Among the Homeless:
Case Studies of Some ‘ Lost Dreams’ . 1989 Retrieved from:
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/30/us/drug-aIDicts-among-the- homeless-case-
studies-of-some-lost-dreams.htmlFichter, M., & Quadflieg, N. Alcoholism in homeless men in
the mid-nineties: results from the Bavarian Public Health Study on homelessness. European
Archives of Psychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience, 249.1(1999):34-41. Print.National Coalition
of the Homeless. Substance abuse and homeless.
2009.http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/aIDiction.pdfPersonal interview.
Interview with Mr. John a former homeless person that was alcoholicThompson, Ronald,
Wall, Melanie, Greenstein, Eliana, Grant, Bridget and Hasin, Deborah. “ Substance-Use
Disorders and Poverty as Prospective Predictors of First-Time Homelessness in the United
States” . American Journal of Public Health, 103. 2(2013):282-288. Print.