A large majority of homeless people in California are not actually illicit drug users, study finds

UCSF researchers found that contrary to popular perception, only about 37% of homeless people were using illicit drugs regularly, and 25% said they had never even used drugs.

That said, the researchers also confirmed that drug use is far more prevalent among homeless people than in the general population, with 65% reporting that they regularly used drugs at some point in their lives, and 27% reporting that they had started using drugs after becoming homeless.

ideasfromtheedge

A large majority of homeless people in California are not actually illicit drug users, study finds

![](https://m.stacker.news/80422)

UCSF researchers found that contrary to popular perception, only about 37% of homeless people were using illicit drugs regularly, and 25% said they had never even used drugs.

That said, the researchers also confirmed that drug use is far more prevalent among homeless people than in the general population, with 65% reporting that they regularly used drugs at some point in their lives, and 27% reporting that they had started using drugs after becoming homeless.

OP and further reading 

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/substance-use-among-homeless-california