Study published: Elevated mortality risks among people in homelessness with substance use disorders

Association between homelessness and mortality

This registry study included 8 397 people with substance use disorders (SUDs) in the Stockholm region, categorized based on their housing status. At the start of the study, 637 lived in homelessness, 1 135 lived in precarious housing, and 6 625 lived in stable housing. The researchers aimed to investigate the association between homelessness and mortality among people with SUDs, adjusting for age, sex, narcotic use, intravenous drug use, and inpatient care for SUDs.

Elevated mortality risks

The study found that among people with SUDs, mortality was increased for those in homelessness compared with those in stable housing. When adjusting for age, sex, narcotic use, intravenous drug use, and inpatient care for SUDs, the association between homelessness and mortality was no longer statistically significant. Specifically, narcotic use, intravenous drug use, and inpatient care for SUDs were significant contributors to the elevated mortality risk.

Standardized mortality ratios revealed that, compared to the general population, the risk of mortality was 13.6 times higher among people in homelessness with substance use disorders, and 3.7 times higher among people in stable housing with substance use disorders.

The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and policies aimed at reducing excess mortality among people in homelessness with SUDs.