Addressing eating disorders, substance use, and homelessness: a call for inclusive clinical support for street-engaged youth and adults with eating disorders.

Abstract

Evidence points towards an interrelationship between eating disorders and substance use. However, individuals with concurrent substance abuse and eating disorders often experience significant barriers restricting individuals from accessing treatment programs. One such barrier is that treatment programs often refuse or lack the expertise to treat individuals who suffer from both substance use disorders and eating disorders. Instead, the disorders are treated in an isolated manner that does not adequately address the nuances of concurrent disorders. As such, health care providers must adopt an approach that integrates and holistically addresses multiple factors, including homelessness and substance use, to benefit patients.