INJECTION-DRUG USERS, CRACK SMOKERS, AND THE USE OF HUMAN-SERVICES

This article describes the use of human services by 245 injection drug users and 125 track cocaine smokers living in Columbus and Dayton, Oh io. These so-called hard drug users were asked about their current inv olvement with six categories of human services-homeless shelters, food pantries or soup kitchens, medical services, government financial ass istance, drug self-help groups, and miscellaneous services. The findin gs suggest that drug users are active consumers of human services; nea rly 90 percent reported current involvement. The average number of ser vices used was more than three per person. Results of multivariate ana lyses suggest that a host of variables influence the type and number o f services used. The study found no gross patterns of discrimination. It is concluded that more information is needed about how hard drug us ers interact with the human services system and that expectations of w hat the human services system is capable of accomplishing need to be r e-evaluated.