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Original Publication Date
2026
Document Type
Video
Abstract
This presentation addresses the critical intersection of housing instability and substance use disorder (SUD) among adolescents and emerging adults (ages 18–25). While SUD is often treated as a singular clinical issue, this research argues it is a "two-part problem" requiring both evidence-based clinical therapy and the mitigation of structural barriers, specifically homelessness. Using data from the 2023 Treatment Episode Discharge Data Set (TEDS), the study analyzed 123,112 first-time treatment episodes to compare the substance use patterns and clinical outcomes of housed versus unhoused youth.
The findings reveal significant disparities in substance choice and treatment success:
- Substance Disparities: Housed young adults primarily reported marijuana and alcohol use, while those experiencing homelessness showed a higher prevalence of opioids and methamphetamines, indicating a trend toward more potent, illicit substances within the unhoused population.
- Treatment Barriers: Unhoused individuals faced higher odds of frequent substance use prior to admission, increased likelihood of recent arrest, and shorter treatment stays.
- The Completion Paradox: Interestingly, unhoused youth showed slightly higher odds of completing treatment programs despite remaining homeless at discharge, suggesting a high motivation to change that is often undermined by a lack of post-treatment structural support.
- Age-Based Efficacy: Adolescents demonstrated significantly better treatment outcomes than emerging adults, highlighting a critical window for early intervention before substance patterns become deeply entrenched.
Keywords
Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Youth homelessness, Treatment outcomes
Rights
Copyright © 2026 Elizabeth Ogunleye. All rights reserved.
Comments
Presented as part of the Understanding the Drivers of Chronic Health and Behavioral Conditions in Adolescence session.