‘There’s no hope for any kind of decent life’: a qualitative study to explore the perspectives of people experiencing homelessness with a recent non-fatal overdose in Scotland

Farmer, N., McPherson, A., Thomson, J., Reilly, F., Williamson, A. and Lowrie, R. (2023) ‘There’s no hope for any kind of decent life’: a qualitative study to explore the perspectives of people experiencing homelessness with a recent non-fatal overdose in Scotland. British Journal of Social Work, (doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcad160) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

The past ten years has seen a marked increase in the numbers of people experiencing homelessness globally and an associated public health epidemic of drug-related deaths. Drawing from qualitative interviews as part of a wider pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Glasgow, Scotland with National Health Service pharmacists and third sector homeless outreach caseworkers, insights from those with living experience of both homelessness and a recent non-fatal drug overdose will be presented. Twenty people experiencing homelessness with at least one drug overdose in the past six months were interviewed in person, in a homelessness drop in centre or in emergency accommodation between November 2021 and January 2022. Findings from our study indicate that participants’ drug use and overdose risk were exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the pervasive availability of illicit drugs for those placed in emergency accommodation, alongside reduced support and access to health and social care services. Additionally, multi-agency stressors such as a lack of autonomy and dehumanising experiences were reported, leading to a significant sense of powerlessness. Furthermore, the necessity of advocacy-based services as critical aspects of support was identified, with importance placed upon dedicated, homelessness staff and access to safe environments.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This study was funded by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Scottish Government (Drug Deaths Task Force) DDTFRF06.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Williamson, Professor Andrea and McPherson, Dr Andrew and Lowrie, Dr Richard
• Authors: Farmer, N., McPherson, A., Thomson, J., Reilly, F., Williamson, A., and Lowrie, R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: British Journal of Social Work
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0045-3102
• ISSN (Online): 1468-263X
• Published Online: 03 July 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Social Work 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License