Date of Conferral

4-10-2024

Date of Award

April 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Gregory Hickman

Abstract

Opioid overdose is the leading cause of death among the homeless, with limited access to housing, food, security, and medically assisted treatment (MAT). The women on MAT are affected because they may not be readily accepted into the housing community if considered non-abstinent, unlike other substance users who would not have those problems. There previously had not been research on how housing for women was affected when on MAT or any housing facilities that have established MAT protocol. In this generic qualitative design, 10 female participants on MAT who needed housing were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Bandura's social learning theory was used to understand the perception of official policies on MAT in securing sober housing. Social learning theory was used to illuminate the findings of states, public health officials, and providers working together to understand better what is needed to facilitate MAT for opioid users through virtual interviews conducted in this generic qualitative design study. Purposeful and snowball sampling were used in this study to gain participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the participants’ data. Four themes were found: that MAT is keeping them sober but stigmatized as a person with an addiction. The second theme was educating people on MAT. Theme 3 was about the importance of understanding that using drugs will kill them. Theme 4 was the experience of being turned away from different housing entities. Official housing policies could lead to positive social change and actions that would open doors for women on MAT to secure housing without discrimination and implement official housing policies locally and globally.

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