Alcohol and Other Drug Problems Among Homeless Veterans: A Life-Course Theory of Forgiveness

This study of 310 women and 315 men is one of the first investigations of a theoretical model of alcohol and other drug abuse among homeless veterans. The sample consists of inpatients in a Domiciliary program at Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Using structural equation modeling, it is observed that forgiveness amplifies the inverse relationships of caregiver attachment and spiritual well-being to alcohol and other drug abuse. In contrast, forgiveness reduces the relationships of abuse, distress, and depression to alcohol and other drug abuse. The treatment implications for homeless veterans are discussed. Spiritual issues and forgiveness are long-neglected topics in treatment programs for substance abusers. (C) 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]