One of the most dangerous lines of thinking about the homeless is the stereotype that being homeless inherently means one is or was on drugs. A KOMO News Article called "Seattle is Dying" estimates that 100% of homeless people are drug users. This is violently untrue. In fact, Banyan Treatment Center estimates that only 26% of the homeless population abuses drugs. One other thing that must be considered is why people are abusing drugs? BTC estimates that 25-33% of the homeless population struggles with mental health issues that could have caused drug abuse before or after becoming homeless. Many also likely turn to drugs after becoming homeless because of onset depression, anxiety, or general hopelessness.
The unfortunate reality is that these stigmas get in the way of many people helping. It is not uncommon to hear things like "all homeless people are drug addicts," or "why should I be giving my money to someone who's just going to spend it on drugs?" However, these kinds of things neglect the actual issue. Why are homeless people more likely to end up with substance abuse problems more than housed individuals? According to the same BTC study, only 15% of the general population suffers from drug abuse.
One thing that can help is better nutrition. Dietitians can help treat the underlying causes of substance abuse, (like anxiety or depression) by crafting a diet around the person's unique needs. Drugs can sometimes affect a person's appetite, and can hurt metabolic regulation. If the drugs affect one's appetite, then they won't eat as often, or as well, and it will continue the depressive cycle of drug abuse. Helping get people on the right path with a healthy diet can restore nutrients that have been lacking due to substance abuse or current diet. This will help battle depression and anxiety, as these can be perpetuated or even caused outright by poor dieting.
Knowing how much a healthy diet can help those in need is only part of the puzzle. Most homeless people don't have the luxury of being able to afford a dietitian, and even if they could talk to one, many would be unable to get stable access to clean and healthy foods needed for the diet. One thing that could be done is expanding things food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters, as well as donating better quality food and supplies to these places. Unfortunately, I was not able to find any resources on dietitians or nutritionists working with homeless people, but that would also be extremely helpful if it were done.
Sources:
https://komonews.com/news/local/komo-news-special-seattle-is-dying
https://www.uwkc.org/news/are-all-homeless-people-drug-addicts/
https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/120914p44.shtml#:~:text=Macro%2D%20and%20micronutrient%20deficiencies%20can,alcohol%20or%20trigger%20a%20relapse.
https://www.banyantreatmentcenter.com/2020/07/01/a-look-at-homeless-addicts-philadelphia/
Ethan Conrad Credits
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