Homelessness And Substance Abuse And Mental Illness Essay

Abstract Homelessness has been a major issue for the past hundred years often due to economic struggles, the closure of asylums in the Sixties and Seventies, and mental illness. Substance abuse often goes hand in hand with homelessness although there is debate as to which comes first. More over a number of individuals not only suffer from homelessness and substance abuse but also mental illness as well. This population struggles to have their basic needs of food and shelter met, so receiving adequate treatment for substance abuse and mental illness is often difficult. Two main treatment modalities are currently used when working with this population: abstinence and harm reduction. However, often treatment programs do not treat both mental illness and substance abuse. Community programs which meet homeless individual’s needs and practitioners who take the time to develop a healthy therapeutic relationship are the best chances of helping a homeless individual get clean. 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