I strongly encourage all to watch the film, “Behind the Orange Curtain” about the prescription drug epidemic. One topic that we frequently discuss in Hunger and Homelessness is alcohol and drug abuse among the homeless population. Beside the Golden Door Policy, Politics, and the Homeless shares data about substance abuse among the homeless population. Alcohol abuse among the nation’s homeless is the most single disorder diagnosed. Nationally 40% of homeless women and 50% of homeless men abuse alcohol. I often hear comments made by the housed population such as, “I don’t want to give the homeless money because they will spend it on drugs and alcohol.” You have the permission to get drunk in the privacy of your home, apartment, dorm room, but not in the public space of the street.
“Behind the Orange Curtain” shares the story of the increased use of prescription drugs primarily among the high school population of children of affluent families from Orange County. Drug and alcohol use is a problem that exists regardless of socioeconomic status.