• Health care and public service use and costs before and after provision of housing for chronically homeless persons with severe alcohol problems Chronically homleless individuals with severe alcohol problems often have multiple medical and psychiatric problems and use costly health and criminal justice services at high rates. This study evaluates the association of a Housing First approach for chronically homeless individuals with severe alcohol problems with health care use and costs. In conclusion, the Housing First program was associated with a relative decrease in costs after six moths. These benefits increased to the extent that participants were retained in housing longer. JAMA | April 1, 2009 | Vol. 301, No. 13 | pp. 1349 – 1357

• Addressing Tobacco Use in Homeless Populations: Recommendations of the Expert Panel (2010) The Break Free Alliance presents this resource on tobacco cessation with individuals experiencing homelessness as part of an initiative through the Health Education Council. The mission of the Health Education Council is to promote good health in all communities through advocacy and education. The Break Free Alliance is a collaboration between various agencies across the country - including the National Health Care for the Homeless Council - created to decrease tobacco burden in impoverished communities. The recommendations in this report come from an expert panel comprised of clinicians, researchers, individuals who have experienced homelessness, policymakers and other stakeholders. To read more about the Break Free Alliance, click here.

MONOGRAPHS

• Documenting Disability for Persons with Substance Use Disorders & Co-occurring Impairments: A Guide for Clinicians by Patricia Post, January 2007 (PDF)
• Providing Treatment for Homeless People With Substance Use Disorders: Case Studies of Six Programs by Ken Kraybill and Suzanne Zerger, August 2003 (PDF)
• Substance Abuse Treatment: What works for Homeless Individuals? A Review of the Literature by Suzanne Zerger, June 2002 (PDF)

• Healing Hands | February 2009 | Meeting the Challenges of Comorbid Mental Illness & Substance-Related Disorders
• Healing Hands | October 2006| Addiction on the Streets: Clinical Interventions
• Healing Hands | May 2006 | Integrating Primary & Behavioral Health Care for Homeless People
• Healing Hands | October 2003 | A Comprehensive Approach to Substance Abuse and Homelessness
• Healing Hands | August 2001 | Pregnant and Homeless: Risk Reduction for Substance Abusing Mothers

• Baltimore Mental Health Services Symptom Screening Form: Screening tool developed by the City of Baltimore which heightens clinicians' ability to identify co-occurring disorders (comorbid mental illness and substance-related disorders) and has significantly increased treatment effectiveness
• Co-occurring Mental Illness and Substance-Related Disorders: An extensive bibliography compiled in March 2009 including articles, books, and presentations on the scientific understanding of comorbid substance-related and mental disorders. References include research findings and recommended practices for the care of homeless individuals with these co-occurring disorders.
• Criminal Activity and Substance Abuse Study: Central City Concern: Mentor and ADFC Housing Programs (2008) - Results from this study of 87 recipients of drug treatment services enrolled in the Mentor and Alcohol Drug Free Communities (ADFC) programs through Central City Concern in Portland, Oregon demonstrated a 95% reduction in drug use and a 93% reduction in criminal activity post-treatment relative to pre-treatment levels.
• CSAT Product Catalog (2007). The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Product Catalog, produced by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, lists Treatment Improvement Protocols, Technical Assistance Publications, Quick Guides, periodicals and other materials on state-of-the-art treatment practices. There are materials for clients as well as for providers, and products in other languages. Publications may be ordered by fax, online or over the phone. A helpful index lists several homeless-specific products, and also lists products by specific substance of abuse.
• Drug Use and Oral Clues
• Harm Reduction: Preparing for Change | April 2010 Harm reduction is an approach for substance use treatment that involves a set of practical techniques that are openly negotiated with clients around what is most likely to be achieved.
• Harm Reduction Psychotherapy & Training Associates
• "Impossible" Government Housing Standards Lead Many Recovering Addicts Back To The Streets. This press release from the University of Alabama Birmingham summarizes the results of a study on drug addiction and homelessness. Researchers found that the majority of recovering addicts remain without homes and without jobs even after participating in a six-month drug treatment program. Further research suggests that this may be because government-subsidized housing programs set standards too high for recovering addicts. The study will appear in the January issue of The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research and online at www.springerlink.com/content/1556-3308. To request a reprint of the article directly from the author Stefan G. Kertesz, MD, MSc, call 205/996-2827 or write him at skertesz@uab.edu.
• Notification of Intent to use Schedule III, IV or V Opioid Drugs for the Maintenance and Detoxification Treatment of Opiate Addiction under 21 USC § 823(g)(2), 03/31/2009 (form)
• Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website. SAMHSA's Homeless Services page provides information and links to SAMHSA's 2006 - 07 Strategic Action Plan on Homelessness; The Center for Mental Health Services' PATH Programs; current SAMHSA programs and activities specific to homelessness and co-occurring disorders; and homeless families, women with mental and/or addictive disorders and their children.
• Use of Buprenorphine in Health Center Substance Abuse Treatment Programs (2003). Program Assistance Letter, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources & Services Administration.