According to a survey, 20% of homeless people in Canada are young people between the ages of 13 and 24. Each year, around 35,000 to 40,000 people face homelessness. Many studies show that young people who are homeless often deal with poor nutrition, safety issues, drug problems, and have a hard time getting healthcare. In this article, we will talk about these problems and how they can lead to addiction to drugs. There is a strong connection between drug problems and mental health issues.
Helping Young People: The Canadian Courage Project
One goal of the Canadian Courage Project (CCP) is to support the mental health of young people who are homeless. We run workshops at youth shelters to teach young people about the importance of mental health and mindfulness. Many young people have taken part in these workshops, and we want to reach even more people in our community. Our organization also runs workshops in schools to teach young people about the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. So far, we have reached 74,000 young people! Each of these programs helps build confidence and shows the importance of connecting with others in the community.
If you want to know more about homelessness in Canada, especially in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), we welcome you! If you are returning to learn about the challenges faced by homeless youth and those with pets, welcome back! If you are new to our blog, thank you for your interest! You are on your way to making a difference in your community, and you are in great company.
Understanding Substance Abuse Among Homeless Youth
The reasons that lead young people to become homeless are different from those for adults. Studies show that 40% to 71% of young people living on the street use alcohol or other drugs. It is also found that homeless boys use drugs 10% more often and homeless girls 17% more often than those who have homes. For some young people, using drugs may lead them to become homeless. For others, using drugs may happen because they are homeless. It is a wrong belief that most homeless people have drug problems. This idea can harm those who struggle with addiction.
As mentioned before, young people who are homeless are more likely to be around drugs while living on the street. Using drugs may seem appealing because it can create a sense of belonging, give relief, and help them survive. However, using drugs can also lead to many physical and mental health problems, including addiction, diseases, crime, and violence.
The Connection Between Drug Use, Mental Health, and Homelessness
More young people using drugs leads to more problems, especially with their mental health. Young people who are homeless are twice as likely to have mental health issues compared to those who have homes. There is a strong connection between being homeless and having drug problems, which can make mental health worse. Both homelessness and drug use can harm mental health, but some people face both challenges at the same time. The CCP aims to improve the mental health of homeless youth and teach them healthy ways to cope with their struggles.
Reducing Drug Problems Among the Homeless
Reducing drug problems among homeless people connects to our main goal of promoting good mental health and physical well-being. We believe in harm reduction, which means finding ways to make life less harmful for these individuals. Some ideas for harm reduction include providing safe places for people to use drugs, giving out supplies, preventing overdoses, and offering treatment.
How You Can Help
Here are some ways you can help:
- Fight against the negative beliefs about drug problems by educating those around you.
- Share resource guides for those in need.
- Talk to kids about mental health and drug use.
- Support safe places for people to use medicine safely.
