Citation

Galea S, Vlahov D. Public Health Rep. (1974) 2002; 117(Suppl 1): S135-S145.

Affiliation

Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10029-5293, USA. sgalea@nyam.org

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Association of Schools of Public Health)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12435837

PMCID

PMC1913691

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This article reviews the evidence on the adverse health consequences of low socioeconomic status, homelessness, and incarceration among drug users. OBSERVATIONS: Social and economic factors shape risk behavior and the health of drug users. They affect health indirectly by shaping individual drug-use behavior; they affect health directly by affecting the availability of resources, access to social welfare systems, marginalization, and compliance with medication. Minority groups experience a disproportionately high level of the social factors that adversely affect health, factors that contribute to disparities in health among drug users. CONCLUSION: Public health interventions aimed at improving the health of drug users must address the social factors that accompany and exacerbate the health consequences of illicit drug use.

Language: en