The Link Between Homelessness and Opioid Use and Abuse

Every human being needs housing, which also makes the subject between opioids and homelessness intriguing. Any conscious person in the United States might have experienced homelessness, which has been caused by the opioid epidemic. Some people become opioid addicts after they lose their homes while others lose their shelter because of using opioids. Opioids are extracted from opium and from synthetic substances that are used in healthcare environs to relieve pain, generate euphoria, cure neurological and deal with behavioural conditions caused by opioid misuse. Even though the opioid elements are required for treatment, they can be addictive and poisonous. Opioid misuse and overdose can result in death. Fatalities and mortalities caused by opioid abuse in the United States are quite alarming. This research paper will seek to track how opioid has been misused in the United States and how is it associated with homelessness. 

The government of the United States of America and relevant healthcare authorities have intensified awareness campaigns associated with opioid misuse. They want to rehabilitate addicts and assist those who are impacted by the crisis. The opioid crisis has strained hospital workers, paramedics, first responders, and ambulance services that get stacked with more work. They are required to stay alert for emergencies caused by opioid misuse and addiction. In this modern world, youth has started utilizing heroin for fun related activities due to which the Federal and State governments have enacted policies made to counter the opioid crisis. The health and human services (HHS) have termed heroin addiction in the United States as a public health emergency. Health and Human Services (HHS) declaration wants to create awareness about the addiction heroin and other opium substances and look at how to address the vice and minimize homelessness. Today, the state of opioid misuse in the United States (US) can be referred to as the public health emergency. 

Because opioid poisoning and overdoses affect all demographics, research carried out by medical specialists serving the homeless persons, and those in pitiable housing units indicates that this group is susceptible to both opioid overdoses and opioid use disorders. These people have limited access to medication-assisted therapy and overdose prevention treatment. The menace is more prevalent in Colorado. The state records an increased rate of homelessness and illicit drug use contrasted with other states. The prescription of substances like oxycodone is costlier and scarce to find, while heroin is easily accessible and cheap as well. Many of the opioid users prefer opioid, which gets blended with carfentanil and fentanyl. Users purchase opioids illicitly and mixing with carfentanil and fentanyl, which may lead to overdose. Opioid misuse is now a national crisis because the abusers of the substance have risen. Deaths associated with opioid abuse have tripled over the last decade. Research conducted in 2014 shows that over 2 million Americans were suffering from opioid use disorders caused either by opioid allied overdoses, heroin abuse, and prescription of drugs, thus accounting for over 30000 deaths across the country. Despite the fact, the opioid crisis affects all genders, races, and socioeconomic status, the effects are more detrimental, acute, and unique to people who are homeless. Opioid use disorders have a direct link to homelessness, and opioid abuse and abuse also affect homeless people. Consistent with The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), homelessness is experienced by persons who lack ample, static, and regular nighttime shelter. However, persons who lack permanent housing suffer from psychological conditions and drug abuse, which exacerbates pursues to get better living environments.

Considering data collected in 2018 in the United States of America, over half a million people were facing homelessness. The data translates that in every 10000 people, seventeen of them are homeless in the United States of America (USA). Sixty-seven percent of the group is people without families, while the remaining thirty-three percent are people with families. Subpopulations 7%, which comprise of youth below 25 years old, live on their own but lack a regular home. 7% of Veterans are also homeless; there is 18 percent of chronically homeless persons especially the disabled who have stayed for long without a home. The rate of homeless is rising highest in veterans and children. There are over 40000 homeless veterans in the United States. Their figures are slightly higher than those of homeless families and adults.

Among every five veterans, three of them are homeless. Veterans end up use opioids to relieve stress after returning from deployments. As a result, they develop opioid use disorders. They experience negative repercussions, thus affecting their social reintegration process. As they become more depended on opioids, they spend money on opioids then run broke, leading to homelessness (Han p.235). It becomes hard to wrestle with the habit, thus leading to the purchase of heroin and other cheaper substance to ease stress. The United States has recorded over 400 non-combat deaths, which are attributable to opioid dependence and abuse by the veterans. Veterans tend to abuse prescription drugs like benzodiazepines to ease stress.

Homeless Americans are more susceptible to premature deaths and chronic conditions compared to other populations (Han p. 300). The group will most likely exhibit high cases of illnesses such as pneumonia, asthma, diabetes, STDs, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Over 35% of homeless residents of the United States of America are ailing from psychological ailments, while over 50% are suffering from opioid and substance abuse disorders. As a result, the situation calls for the need for health care practitioners who will address psychological conditions and initiate abstinence from opioids use.

The health of the homeless has deteriorated further because they are can quickly assess quality healthcare. Comparing the homeless and the larger population of the United States, the homeless find it hard to access, utilize, and continue therapy. Most of them allege that their healthcare needs are not satisfied due to many reasons. Again, the homeless tend to use hospital-based care and emergency services instead of primary care, which is preferred by the general population (Alford, p.175). Therapy for opioid abuse is rarely available for the homeless. Most of the rehabilitation centers lack enough capacity, and the opioid victims must wait for long before they are taken care of. Then again, in the charge rates of rehabilitation in private practices bars homeless persons because they lack the necessary health assurance cover to cater to therapy costs. Again, other healthcare settings ask for an assurance from particular insurers to offer rehabilitation services.

Since the homeless lack enough funds to cater to the right therapy prescriptions, they opt for cheaper heroin to relieve pain, unlike costly prescription medicines. Healthcare authorities in the United States have attested that there is an overdependence of OxyContin. The drug is a prescription painkiller that has led to fatalities and mortalities for homeless people (Han p.295). Opioid abusers have averted the use of heavily regulated and costly schedule II and schedule III drugs for heroin, which is cheap and easily accessed. The homeless groups end up sharing needles and other unsanitized equipment, thus prompting the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.  

Previous researches have indicated there is a close connection between opioid addiction and homelessness. The researchers allege that homelessness can cause opioid dependence or abuse, while opioid use can result in homelessness. In America, home offers both emotional and financial security to the residents. According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, over half the population of homeless people suffer from an opioid use disorder, a psychiatric condition, or both. It is quite apparent that substance abuse and psychological disorders change one's personality and behavior. As a result, the life of the homeless is further complicated. The homeless and opioid victims often utter words and do things that they couldn't have thought of before opioid use. The cognitive change and unpredictability disturb the professional, family, and social aspects of the user. The disruptions cause homelessness and strained relationships. Instead of using the money to improve the standard of living, it is used in buying drugs, while disruptions in the workplace would lead to layoff and then joblessness. The community socially isolates opioid abusers and the homeless. They end up feeling mortified to ask for assistance from family and allies. Limited help from family and friends lowers their purchase power to access therapy services since they can cover miscellaneous costs like transport. 

On the contrary, some researcher alleges opioid abuse is not the causative factor of homelessness since it the direct result of homelessness. Reminiscent of clinical research, sometimes, people opt for opioid abuse after they have lost shelter. The dependence on opioids buds from people who come from middle or well-off family backgrounds but lose their shelter dues to joblessness or economic turmoil. The group goes for opioids to get temporary solace to manage the reality of losing their homes. Opioid use becomes a habit, thus leading to unemployment, depression, and stress due to the harsh reality of life. Recently, the rising costs of housing without a substantial rise in salaries in the United States have prompted homelessness. Since they cannot manage the new trends and are economically constrained, they become homeless increase the chance of developing the need for opioids to relieve stress. Homelessness exposes them to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and tuberculosis, which further raises the need to purchase opioids to relieve pain.

Both the federal and some states government of the United States have come up with strategies and healthcare strategies like permanent affordable housing, health coverage, emergency homeless centers, day shelters, alcohol rehabilitation, and halfway housing for those affected. On the contrary, some of the homeless populations abscond government services because there is a high prevalence of opioid abuse and fights in the houses. The governments, in conjunction with some nonprofit organizations, are determined to help homeless populations and find them permanent and cheap shelters. The objective of the substance abuse programs is to rehabilitate opioid users and alcohol dependents (Han p.297). The program is made to reduce substance dependency gradually because the total abstinence approach is less effective. The national government has allocated over 1.5 billion dollars to address opioid abuse crisis in the country. Through the initiative, pressing and unique needs of populations who had suffered from opioid abuse and are at high risk of being homeless get prioritized first.

From the study above, homeless people are more vulnerable to engage in opioid use and abuse. Due to this, they are susceptible to contact chronic diseases and also life loss. The exposure to opioids and substances inclines them to contract respiratory infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis, and asthma. Opioids abuse is arguably the leading cause of homelessness even though homelessness can compel one to opioid use to relieve pain and the harsh realities of life. Also, though the government and nonprofit organizations have intensified initiatives to address opioid abuse and allocated finances as well, the therapy needs opioid use disorders and the urge for opioids of the homeless groups to keep on recurring. Scholars presume opioid therapy initiated with housing components would yield better results in longevity, unlike total abstinence strategies that affect the mental and emotional stability of the opiate user. For these reasons, clinicians ought to work closely with community institutions and the homeless to ensure they comprehend the opioid use therapy and rehabilitation programs. The clinicians should also ensure there aren't overdoses of prescription medicines. By so doing, they would not only better the health conditions of most if not all homeless populations but also better lives and health of people around them.