Survey Results and Response for "Houselessness, Mental Health Conditions, and Drug Abuse, Is There a Correlation?"

 We want to start by thanking everyone who participated in the survey that was posted in February. It was a great turn out and we're so grateful for 45 responses that helped us gain a better understanding of the knowledge and viewpoints that the public has on these public health issues. In this post, we will be sharing the responses and results from the survey, and at the end, there will be another brief survey that we encourage you to take after reading. 

The first question of the survey asked "How many individuals do you think suffer from houselessness in the United States?" and the majority of the responses were correct, the estimated number of houseless individuals in 2022 was 582, 462. From 2022 to 2023 the United States experienced a 12% increase in the number of individuals who were houseless on a single night, approximately 653,100 people experienced houselessness at some point in 2023.  

Graph of responses 

The second question asked, "How many people do you think suffer from houselessness in Portland, Oregon?". Many of the participants answered incorrectly, and only 38% of the responses were correct. There is a noticeable stigma surrounding Portland, Oregon, and its homeless crisis, many individuals expected the number of houseless individuals in Portland to be greater than the actual value. Around 53% of the participants expected the number of houseless individuals to be about 4,000 more people than the actual estimated value. The number of homeless individuals has dramatically increased by 65% in recent years. In 2015 the estimated number of people experiencing homelessness was 1,887, and in 2023 there were around 6,297 homeless individuals.

graph of responses

The next question was "Do you believe that drug abuse and houselessness are correlated?", this question was asked mainly to see what people's views are on the idea of a correlation between these two public health issues. 80% of the participants believed that there was a correlation between the two, which was good to see. It is estimated that around 1/3 of houseless individuals have some form of substance abuse disorder, around 38% of people who are houseless abuse alcohol, and 26% abuse other forms of drugs. The correlation between the two public health concerns is complex, substance abuse can be a factor that leads someone to becoming homeless, but substance abuse can also be a consequence of homelessness. Individuals who suffer from homelessness are more likely to abuse substances, and their also at a greater risk of experiencing an overdose caused by opioids or illicit drugs.

Graph of Responses

Then we asked in the survey, "Around what percent of houseless individuals in the U.S. abuse drugs?", the data compiled demonstrated that people expect the percentage to be higher than it is. 40% of the participants believed that 72% of homeless individuals abuse drugs, and 24% of survey takers correctly answered that 26% of houseless people abuse drugs.  

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The follow-up question was "Around what percent of houseless individuals suffer from substance abuse disorder (SUD)?", about 29% of the responses selected the correct answer, which was 37% of houseless people have a substance abuse disorder (SUD). 40% of the responses were for the highest value, and 56% of houseless people have SUD, which can demonstrate the stigma surrounding homelessness and substance abuse. One error in the survey question was that we used data for Portland, Oregon, but in the question, we didn't specify whether it was on Portland, or the United States as a whole. 

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The participants were asked, "In 2022, about how many houseless people died from drug overdoses in Portland, Oregon?". Following the trend of the responses to previous questions, 33% of participants answered "413" and 29% selected "365", the correct number was much lower than the participants assumed, only 11% of people answered correctly with "123" homeless people died from a drug overdose in 2022. With the rise of fentanyl in the United States, the nation has been facing a drastic increase in drug-related overdose deaths, and Portland is no exception, with 74% of the overdoses caused by fentanyl. 

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Again, we asked the survey takers a question that would be based on their views and beliefs, "Do you believe that houselessness and mental health issues are correlated?", 89% of the participants did believe that there is a correlation. People who experience homelessness are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses like anxiety and depression, and they're at a greater risk of having suicidal ideations and committing suicide. Mental illnesses can also lead to homelessness, individuals with mental health disorders are at a greater risk of becoming homeless, some disorders can inhibit a person from getting and maintaining a job, and behavior disorders can cause an individual to withdraw from friends and family. Substance abuse can also play a part in this, individuals with mental health issues are more likely to misuse substances in efforts to self-medicate, and the financial burden of substance abuse and self-medicating can also be a factor in becoming houseless. Substance abuse can also cause mental health problems and can also be a factor to self-isolation and maintaining a job. 

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In the survey we asked "In the U.S. what percent of houseless individuals suffer from mental illnesses?". This question also demonstrated that the expected percentage is much higher than the actual value, 62% of responses selected "50%" and only 7% of the responses selected the correct percentage which is 21%. In 2022, 21% of homeless people interviewed reported having a mental illness. 

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The last question of the survey was "What percent of houseless people in Portland, Oregon suffer from mental health conditions?". A majority of the participants (56%) answered 72%, and the other majority (36%) answered correctly, 40%. In 2022, 40% of houseless individuals reported having a mental health disorder. This percentage gives the public a good idea of how many homeless individuals suffer from some form of mental health problems. Still, the value is most likely higher than what was reported, because it is likely that non every homeless individual was interviewed. Some also might not be aware that they are suffering from a mental health disorder. People who are experiencing houselessness and mental health issues are more than likely not receiving treatment for their problems, which can exacerbate their symptoms, and can lead to episodes of psychosis or depression. 

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A large issue when discussing homelessness, mental illnesses, and substance abuse is whether there is a correlation or causation between the three. There is a correlation between these three public health issues, but correlation doesn't mean causation. Correlation and causation can exist simultaneously, which these three public health crises demonstrate, each of these issues can cause another. Mental illnesses can cause homelessness and substance abuse, substance abuse can lead to houselessness and mental illnesses, and substance abuse and mental illnesses can be the result of experiencing homelessness. The biggest takeaway from this survey and its results is that causation and correlation are both present and can be seen and experienced in different ways. 

Link for Final Survey