Frontline homelessness workers encounter substance use every day — and having a basic working knowledge of common substances, their effects, and the risks associated with them is genuinely useful. Not clinical knowledge: workers are not prescribers or treatment specialists. But practical knowledge: the kind that helps you understand what someone is experiencing, recognise signs of intoxication or withdrawal, and have more informed conversations.
This module provides a practical overview of the substances most commonly encountered in homelessness services: alcohol, opioids, stimulants, cannabis, benzodiazepines, and novel psychoactive substances. For each, it covers what it is, what it does, and what workers need to know.
This is a Developing-level module within Subject 6: Substance Use and Recovery. It is educational, not clinical — for clinical concerns about someone's use, specialist drug and alcohol workers and healthcare professionals are the appropriate resource.