Comparing Two Substance Abuse Treatments for the Homeless

Abstract

The Birmingham Comparative Substance Abuse Treatments for the Homeless is a cooperative effort between the Birmingham Health Care for the Homeless Coalition (BHCHC) and investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). This treatment program provides and compares usual care with enhanced services to homeless persons with substance abuse disorders. The study's aims are to: (1) identify homeless persons with substance abuse problems; (2) provide medical evaluation, observation, and stabilization services; (3) randomly assign at least 150 homeless substance abusers to either a usual care or enhanced dav treatment intervention: and (4) evaluate the differential effectiveness of the interventions in reducina alcohol and/or drug use. increasing levels of shelter and residency, and enhancing economic and employment status.