Research recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, “Population-Level Health Effects of Involuntary Displacement of People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness Who Inject Drugs in U.S. Cities,” examines the impacts of involuntary displacement on people experiencing homelessness who use drugs. Involuntary displacements, also known as “sweeps” or “clearings” of homeless encampments, can disproportionately affect people who engage in intravenous drug use, as they can limit the ability to obtain clean injection equipment, naloxone, and medications to treat opioid addiction. The authors find evidence that such displacements lead to an increase in deaths and hospitalizations among intravenous drug users experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The findings warrant re-evaluation of local practices of involuntary displacement and suggest the need to advocate for expanded access to housing and supportive services for those who engage in intravenous drug use.
Using simulation modeling, the authors compared scenarios in which hypothetical intravenous drug users were and were not subject to continuous displacement over a 10-year period. In the scenario in which people faced involuntary displacement, there were estimated to be between 974 and 2,175 additional overdose deaths per 10,000 people experiencing homelessness at 10 years compared to the scenario in which there was no displacement. There was also an increase of 611 to 1,360 hospitalizations of people experiencing homelessness who injected drugs in the displacement scenario. Further, the displacement version of the model estimated that, per 10,000 people, 3,140 to 8,812 fewer people would be administered medications to treat opioid use disorder.
The authors qualified their findings by noting that many assumptions had to be made to model the scenarios, such as the assumption that an individual would remain homeless over the course of 10 years. However, given scant high-quality data concerning this research area, the authors contend that modeling can be an effective way for policymakers to evaluate risks. The authors encourage cities to halt the practice of involuntary displacement to help alleviate certain health-related issues linked to homelessness. They also emphasize the importance of promoting increased availability of housing and supportive services.
Read the article at: https://bit.ly/41YfoR2