In the thesis, entitled The Use of Drugs as a Coping Mechanism Among the Homeless, I explore how and why homeless people turn to psychoactive substances and the role that drug use plays in coping with various life challenges. Homelessness is a extremely complex social phenomenon that excludes individuals not only from stable housing sphere, but often also from social, healthcare, and economic environment. In the theoretical part of the thesis, I present an understanding of the definitions, forms, and causes of homelessness, focussing on the ETHOS typology and the interconnectedness of various factors that influence the phenomenon of homelessness. In the central part of the thesis, I examine the relationship between homelessness and drug use as a strategy for survival, relief, escape from reality, or coping with feelings of loneliness, trauma and despair. Drug use often emerges as a mechanism mechanisms used by homeless people to manage their difficult living conditions. In the empirical part, I conducted interviews with homeless people to explore their personal histories, their experiences of homelessness, and role that drug or alcohol use plays in this. I was interested in how people get into this situation, what causes them to use substances and how they themselves understand their life on the streets. From analysing the data obtained, I conclude that drug use is often a result of internal distress, past traumatic experiences, and a lack of adequate institutional and emotional support. Homeless people remain trapped in a cycle of exclusion, addiction, and a lack of opportunities for change. One of the key points of this work is the need for a comprehensive approach to understanding homelessness and the inclusion of support systems that focus on inclusion, not judgment.
|
