Name of Project: Alcohol and Homeless Women’s
Use of Health Services
Principal Investigator: Douglas Longshore, Ph.D
Project Director: Cheryl Teruya, Ph.D.
Funding Agency: National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Funding Period: December 2001-November 2004
Scope of Project: Alcohol abuse/dependence and
physical health problems are quite common among the homeless and
their general health-care needs often go unmet. This study employs
secondary data to analyze the association between alcohol abuse/dependence
and use of general health care (inpatient, ambulatory, and preventive)
in a community-based sample of 974 homeless women in Los Angeles
County. We will identify factors that appear to impede or facilitate
the use of general health care among homeless women with lifetime
alcohol abuse/dependence. Because homeless women may view such
problems as more important than alcohol problems, effective access
to general health services may facilitate utilization of and success
in alcohol treatment as well. This study will test hypotheses
regarding a wide range of predisposing and enabling factors (such
as case management, health insurance, and access to public benefits)
potentially associated with access to general health services
by homeless women with alcohol problems. By documenting the nature
and extent of health problems affecting alcohol-using homeless
women, their use of general health services, and the extent to
which their need for care goes unmet, this study will inform alcohol
treatment providers on the value and content of screening/assessment
procedures they might employ and the types of general health services
for which more effective linkage is needed.
For more information, contact Douglas
Longshore.
Last updated - 08/07/2003
Last reviewed 08/4/2003