Supportive housing is for people who are unable to live independently. There are many types of supportive housing models for seniors, mentally ill, physically disabled etc. City Hall's current proposed 30 to 50 unit, drug addict apartment buildings in Vancouver neighbourhoods are a type of supportive housing for drug addicts with a mental illness (concurrent disorders). City Hall claims that this supportive housing will be successful because the drug addicts are seeking treatment and will be abstinent.
Peer reviewed, published scientific papers shows poor outcomes (staying off drugs and obtaining and getting a job) with abstinent based supportive housing for drug addicts with mental illness in United States. Addicts were seeking and wanting treatment, and submitted to random twice weekly urinalysis.
- At 2 weeks into intensive drug treatment (6 1/4 hours per day, driven to and from treatment, lunch provided), 20% were using drugs.
- At 10 weeks approximately 40% were using drugs.
- At 20 weeks, 60% were using drugs.
- At 25 weeks 70% were using drugs. 1
There was no difference in employment between those in supportive housing and those who had no housing. 2
Almost 1/3 did not complete treatment. 3
The above study was done in the United States had a much more robust drug treatment program than what City Hall is planning to provide. Expect Vancouver's supportive drug addict housing results to be even worse. Like Vancouver's drug addicts, the participants were actively seeking and wanting treatment. 4
The best results Vancouver's "abstinent" based supportive housing can achieve, is a reduction in drug use. There will be drug use by the majority of the tenants. This is based on peer reviewed scientific studies that show that most dually diagnosed (drug addict with mental illness) patients are unable to stay abstinent even during treatment.
Science says City Hall's Abstinent-Contingent Supportive Housing for Drug Addicts will Not Work.
Published February 25, 2007.