Individuals experiencing homelessness—an extreme form of social exclusion—have considerably higher risk of being victims of violence than the general population. We analyze the episodes of violence suffered by 504 individuals experiencing homelessness in Spain, as well as the differences between men and women. The results indicate high levels of violence and suggest that gender (specifically, being a woman) is the primary factor driving exposure to violence among this group. Highlighting the reality of women experiencing homelessness can help social, mental health, and addiction services adjust responses to better address the needs of this group and offer comprehensive care.

A bibliometric review was conducted to assess the available scientific knowledge regarding the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (IEH) and reflect on the existing evidence that ICT use has on their health. A total of 50 published articles were selected after a process of systematic review from five databases containing record of publications up until 2016. All the studies were published in English, half of the works were published in the last three years and 48% of them included the description of ICT use as an objective. Despite the fact that experimental studies were rare, and sample sizes typically small, it was concluded that the studies analyzing the effect of ICT on health display benefits. ndeed, the use of such technology offers promising opportunities to explore new ways of intervention in prevention, harm reduction and health treatment of IEH.

Polydrug use is a very common phenomenon and represents an important public health problem. The definition of the term has varied since its inception, and consequently so have forms of self-report evaluation. The aim of this review is to offer an overview of how the concept has evolved and its forms of evaluation through self-reporting. A search of the term polydrug was conducted on the PubMed portal up to August 2022, with a total of 2076 publications detected containing the word polydrug in their title, abstract or keywords. This includes publications that represent an advance in the definition and assessment of this construct through self-reports, which may be useful for researchers carrying out future studies in the field. The importance of distinguishing between concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use and the need to employ comparable measures in parameters for the frequency, magnitude and combination of psychoactive substances involved in polydrug use are two of the main recommendations emerging from this review.

Background: Web-based social networks are a powerful communicative element and their use is increasingly widespread. Persons living in extreme social exclusion such as individuals experiencing homelessness can benefit from the positive elements of communication and relationship associated with social networking sites. Objective: This study aimed to suggest the comparison of a Facebook training course and an office software course and their effect on psychological well-being in a group of individuals experiencing homelessness. Methods: An experimental and longitudinal study was designed. Individuals experiencing homelessness were randomly assigned to either the Facebook group or the office software group, and their social skills, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life were measured on 4 occasions: pretest, at the end of the training course, 1 month later, and 3 months later. A mixed analysis of variance of repeated measures (2×4) was performed. Results: A total of 92 individuals experiencing homelessness participated in the study. The number of cases in which the 4 measurements were completed was 71 (35 in the intervention group and 36 in the control group). The mixed analysis of variance of repeated measures and the multiple regression analysis indicated a significant increase of the 4 analyzed parameters, with greater significance in the areas of social skills and self-esteem. The critical levels associated to the interaction Time×Program were significant in all variables and levels. Therefore, the scores in the 4 analyzed constructs were not equal according to the program carried out throughout the work. The effect size associated to the interaction Time×Program in the social skills scores was large (η2=0.32); in the self-esteem and self-efficacy scores, it was medium, (η2=0.13); and in the satisfaction with life scores, it was small (η2=0.09). The results of the adjustment of the different models of multiple linear regression indicate that the number of hours devoted weekly to the use of Facebook was a predictor of the increase in the scores of social skills (B=3.43, r2=.405) and self-esteem (B=.382). Age (B=.175) and self-efficacy (B=.09) were also variables, which with independence and in equal conditions, predicted self-esteem (r2=.29). Finally, self-esteem (B=.69) was also a predictor variable of the increase of satisfaction with life (r2=.195). Conclusions: These findings suggest that Facebook could be a key element in homeless psychological well-being and socialization.

Aim: The aim of this study is to define the risk factors associated with early discharge in outpatients clinics. Design: Cross-sectional and observational study. Setting: Substance abuse clinics in Girona (Catalonia, Spain). Participants: A total of 264 individuals were included in the sample, and 34.8% of them abandoned the process within two months of starting the therapy (n = 92). Procedure: Clinical and socio-demographic variables of the clinical history were compared between participants with/without adherence. Main measurements: The Student t test was used to measure the comparison, and the chisquared test was used for the analysis of qualitative variables. A binary logistic regression model was adjusted, with adherence as the dependent variable. Results: The results indicated that attending the appointments unaccompanied (OR = 3.13), being female (OR= 2.44), having cocaine related issues (OR= 1.14), and being younger (OR= 0.89) are the factors which increase the risk early abandonment. Contrarily, being referred to specialists from a Primary Health Centre reduces the risk (OR = 0.28). Conclusions: It is concluded that special attention must be devoted to the patients' families, women, and young patients. Moreover, the appropriate coordination between specialist services and basic services increases adherence to treatment among drug users. (C) 2017 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.