San Francisco – A new study from the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) is reshaping the public narrative around homelessness and drug use in California. Contrary to common perceptions that homelessness is primarily driven by substance abuse, the comprehensive research found that just 37% of unhoused Californians reported regular use of illicit drugs.
Published in the medical journal JAMA, the report—Illicit Substance Use and Treatment Access Among Adults Experiencing Homelessness—offers one of the most in-depth looks at substance use and treatment barriers among California’s homeless population in decades.
The findings expose widespread misconceptions, while also highlighting the challenges facing those seeking help…