Differences in Drug Use among Persons Experiencing Homelessness According to Gender and Nationality

Alícia Parés-Bayerri, Fran Calvo (), Sílvia Font-Mayolas, Sonia Panadero and José Juan Vázquez
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Alícia Parés-Bayerri: Social Psychology Department, Universitat de Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
Fran Calvo: Serra Húnter Fellow, Pedagogy Department, Quality of Life Research Institute, Universitat de Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec, 17003 Girona, Spain
Sílvia Font-Mayolas: Psychology Department, Quality of Life Research Institute, Universitat de Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
Sonia Panadero: Clinical Psychology Department, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
José Juan Vázquez: Social Psychology Department, Universidad de Alcalá, 28871 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: The main aims of this article are to update the data related to drug and alcohol use in persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) who use shelters, and to see if there are significant differences in their drug use depending on their gender and nationality. The article presents an analysis of the interconnections between the results of drug dependence detection tools (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS)) according to gender and nationality with the intention of identifying specific needs that lead to new lines of research into better approaches to homelessness. A cross-sectional, observational and analytical method was used to analyse the experiences of persons experiencing homelessness who use various shelters in the cities of Madrid, Girona, and Guadalajara (Spain). The results show that there are no gender differences in the risks of using drugs and drug addiction, but there are differences in terms of nationality for drug addiction, with Spanish nationals showing a greater tendency to develop drug addiction. These findings have significant implications, as they highlight socio-cultural and socio-educational influence as risk factors in drug addiction behaviours.

Keywords: Spain; homelessness; substance use disorders; drug abuse; addiction; immigrants; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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