Project Description
Drug Abuse, Violence, and HIV/AIDS Among Impoverished Women
PI: Suzanne Wenzel
Co-PIs: Douglas Longshore, Adeline Nyamathi, Joan Tucker
Funded by: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Homeless people are frequently the victims of rape or physical assaults, and substance abuse appears to play an important role in increasing vulnerability to victimization. RAND is expanding upon previous research linking substance abuse to assaults among homeless people by investigating the relationships between drug abuse, violence, and HIV/AIDS among impoverished women – homeless or housed. The study also examines the effects of these problems on physical health and injuries, health service utilization, and psychological distress. The study employs interviews and health assessments of 840 women of diverse racial/ethnic status between the ages of 18 and 62, then repeat these visits 12 months later for the same women. Half the sample is chosen from randomly selected homeless shelters and the other half from low-income housing units. At the end of the project, eight focus groups will be convened to help frame feasible community and policy interventions for impoverished women. Each focus group will include two each of homeless women, housed women, community experts, and policymakers.
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