Association between negative life events and morbidity in homeless seeking treatment for substance abuse in Greenland.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the investigation was to describe the association between negative life events on morbidity in homeless seeking treatment for substance abuse in Greenland.

METHODS

Cross sectional study on register data comparing homeless and individuals in secure housing initiating alcohol or substance abuse treatment in Greenland between 1 January 2017 and 14 December 2019, (N = 950).

Results

Homeless were socio-economically disadvantaged compared to treatment seekers in secure housing. They had a heavier burden of psychiatric morbidity and suffered more negative life experiences. Controlled for having experienced abuse, most morbidity measures' predictive value was slightly less pronounced with psychiatric morbidity as an exception.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that both the morbidity and most analyzed negative life events are associated with being homeless and are mutually linked.