Career Development Member Resources-Addiction Care for the Unstably Housed

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Nick Christian presents a virtual ACAM lecture on providing addiction care for unstably housed patients, emphasizing teaching, belonging, and connection. He explains that homelessness is driven largely by lack of affordable housing and is deeply linked with trauma, psychiatric illness, chronic pain, substance use, and poor access to care. Using powerful testimonies from people with lived experience, he highlights mistrust of institutions, social isolation, and the role of substances in coping with pain and survival.<br /><br />Christian reviews current HUD data showing record-high homelessness and major health risks, including overdose, infectious disease, and shortened life expectancy. He recommends a person-centered, trauma-informed approach: build trust slowly, acknowledge hardship honestly, avoid stigma, and welcome patients back after recurrence. He outlines practical care strategies, including housing and income support, case management, and harm reduction.<br /><br />A detailed case example shows how addressing immediate needs like phone access, housing referrals, and overdose prevention can stabilize care and improve outcomes. He also discusses mobile outreach, low-barrier buprenorphine, methadone, long-acting injectables, syringe services, and drop-in models. The talk concludes that effective addiction care for unstably housed patients requires compassion, flexibility, and helping patients feel they belong.

Keywords

homelessness

addiction care

trauma-informed care

harm reduction

buprenorphine

methadone

housing support

unstably housed patients

overdose prevention