Drug Addiction Counseling Essential For Homeless
Make no mistake - drug and alcohol addiction happens in any every economical level, but it seems to hit the homeless especially hard. No child ever thought, "When I grow up, I want to be a homeless drug addict!" Life just has a way of happening, and happening hard. Although many addicts become homeless because of their addictions, many people become homeless through no fault of their own. It is only when on the street when they turn to alcohol or drugs in order to cope. That is why free drug addiction counseling is essential for every homeless person.
Even For Those Homeless Who Aren't Addicts
Many homeless people are lovers, spouses or children of addicts. When I was a homeless person in England, I met many addicts and non-addicts, and we all needed the drug addiction counseling provided by the local day centres (that's how it's spelled in England). Not only did we need to know what was going on with the people we loved with this free drug addiction counseling, but we also had to know what we were getting ourselves in for.
Some people find themselves homeless because they have to run away from an abusive situation (usually due to drug addiction) and do not know where to turn but the street. I met a lot of teenage runaway boys who were not addicts but would probably become ones soon because that was the only life they saw. More than one of these lads decided to go back home or to another relative's after they received drug addiction counseling - even though they were not addicts themselves.
The Intimidation Of Strangers
It takes a long time for a social worker or humanities specialist to develop a trusting relationship with a homeless person, whether tat homeless person is an addict or not. Any homeless person learns to be distrustful and secretive in order to survive. For example, it took three years before I asked for medical help for my major depression. And all that time, they waited for me to ask, letting me go at my own speed, even though later on they claimed I really frustrated them!
Free drug addiction counseling has to go out to the homeless in places where they are comfortable and can be assured of not being turned over to the authorities for any reason, real or imagined. This counseling can be individual talks from a nurse or social worker, or group talks. Everyone in the homeless and lower income community should be invited, even if they are not addicts. It's so scary going to a stranger for help.
