What’s Different A ccording to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), almost 5 million people took a drink of alcohol for the first time in 2017—almost half of those people were kids ages 12–17. While it’s not unusual to expect younger ages to be drawn to alcohol use, AUD contin- ues to rise for this age group. While most homeless people suffering from alcohol abuse are young men, the number of women who suffer—partic- ularly single mothers—is rising. And recently, researchers are understanding more about the side effects of alcohol addiction on women: nearly 700,000 students are assaulted each year while under the influence of alcohol, and al- most 100,000 of them are rape victims. Additionally, the number of homeless young adults is also rising. According to HUD, while homeless- ness overall had been on the decline, between 2016 and 2017 there was a 1 percent rise in homelessness, and young adults ages 18–24 claim the largest group in that increase. From 2002–2015, alcohol use, and binge drinking in particular, was on the rise, according to a study by SAMSHA, the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Advances in technology in the last 10 years has changed the way health-care providers are treating addiction. Researchers continue their commitment to understanding the comprehensive effects of AUD, and higher-definition imaging is connecting the dots of alcohol disease and intricacies of brain development. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports, “As researchers learn more about how neurotransmitters are involved in addiction, they can develop more effective medications that target specific neurotransmitter systems.” While alcohol continues to devastate families and be an intricate player for homeless populations, treatment has changed and is becom- ing more customized. Where There Is Discouragement T he American Psychiatric Association says that AUD is chronically undertreated. A whopping 15.1 million adults (age 18+) have AUD, of which only  WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG MARCH/APRIL 2019 37 Does your organization approach treatment for alcoholism differently than other substance abuse among homeless individuals? What are your treatment plans for alcohol abuse among homeless youth in particular? Among victims of physical and sexual abuse? For families? How can you balance maintaining restrictions on erratic or illegal behavior due to AUD with serving the homeless population’s needs for emergency shelter, nutrition, and eventual treatment? What are some creative ways that your spiritual community as a whole might learn how to embrace and support homeless victims of AUD? Evaluate Your Approach Questions to consider as you minister to those suffering from alcohol addiction