Homelessness and drug abuse has long been a pressing issue in the UK. There are approximately 271,000 people living on the streets in the UK, with over 62% of those abusing substances. That’s an incredibly damning statistic and a sign of just how big the problem is, and how many people are suffering.
But why is it such a problem? Of course, there are many reasons for this and unfortunately there’s little help out there within the system to get people help. While those in employment and their own homes can seek out a private drug rehab clinic, it’s a lot harder for those who have no fixed abode and spend night after night on the street.
So, why is homelessness such a catalyst for drug abuse?
Escaping Trauma and Adversity
For many people who are homeless, they often find themselves in that position as a result of trauma in their lives. As with anyone, trauma is linked heavily with addiction as people use the likes of opioids as a coping mechanism to numb that pain. It’s a cycle that becomes difficult to get out of and can be so destructive that people never make it back off the streets.
Economic Instability and Substance Abuse
Similarly, people facing financial difficulties also often turn to the likes of alcohol and drugs as that same form of coping mechanism. However, not only does that cause addiction, but it also depletes finances even further and makes finding a job and opportunities to make money even more difficult.
That in turn leads people to having no choice but to live on the street, where the blight of addiction continues, while being under the influence and abusing substances makes it very difficult to find accommodation and set their life back up again.
Other Mental Health Issues Also Come Into Play
Alongside addiction, or leading to addiction, other mental health challenges also come into play. Over 50% of people living on the street suffer from mental health issues, and often turning to drugs is the only way they can self medicate that. Naturally, it’s not the best way to do so, but for people living rough, it’s desperate times.
That leads to the heightened risk of addiction, and essentially a situation where people are then battling both addiction and mental health problems.
Limited Access to Treatment and Support Services
That’s all with very limited access to support, treatment and importantly preventative measures. Early intervention is so vital, and many charities are doing as much as they can to prevent people from falling into addiction. But they also need more help.
From there, addiction becomes commonplace, but with little appropriate rehabilitation, it just continues a vicious cycle that will continue until more action is taken to help those people who find themselves in such situations.
