O’Brien, K.K., Schuttke, A., Alhakeem, A., Donnelly-Swift, E., Keogh, C., O’Carroll, A., O'Sullivan, Katriona, Galvin, R. and Fahey, T. (2015) Health, perceived quality of life and health services use among homeless illicit drug users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 154. pp. 139-145. ISSN 0376-8716
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Abstract
Introduction: Drug misuse has been identified as a significant problem in homeless populations. This study
examines aspects of physical and mental health, perceived quality of life and health service use among
homeless illicit drug users and compares these to non-drug users.
Methods: Participants were recruited through health clinics across Dublin. A questionnaire assessed participants’ drug use, health and well-being, health behaviours and use of health services. Descriptive
statistics are presented for the entire cohort and drug users separately. Logistic regression analysis was
used to examine the relationship between drug use and (i) multimorbidity,(ii) anxiety and/or depression,
(iii) perceived quality of life and (iv) use of health services.
Results: Of 105 participants recruited, 35 (33%) were current drug users. Current and previous drug users
were significantly more likely to have multimorbidity than those who had never taken drugs (OR 4.86,
95% CI 1.00–23.66). There was no significant difference between drug users and non-drug users in the
prevalence of anxiety and/or depression. Drug users were five times more likely than non-drug users to
have a low perceived quality of life (OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.7–16.0). Health service utilization was high, although
some services were used less by drug users (e.g., dentist and psychiatric outpatient services) while others
were used more often (e.g., phoneline services and day care centres).
Conclusion: This study highlights the high levels of drug use in this population and the negative impact
of drug use on health and perceived quality of life of a homeless population in Dublin.
Item Type: | Article |
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Keywords: | Homeless; Drug user; Mental health; Perceived quality of life; Health service use; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology |
Item ID: | 19711 |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.06.033 |
Depositing User: | Katriona O'Sullivan |
Date Deposited: | 15 Apr 2025 15:48 |
Journal or Publication Title: | Drug and Alcohol Dependence |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Refereed: | Yes |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/19711 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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