Homeless Drug Users and Information Technology: A Qualitative Study with Potential Implications for Recovery from Drug Dependence

Thirty homeless drug users were interviewed about their engagement with information and communication technologies (ICTs).

• Homeless drug users had access to ICTs and expressed a desire for greater engagement with them.
• Digital exclusion stemmed from factors such as affordability, low-quality technology, limited knowledge, and lack of support.
• Participants often struggled to utilize technology fully due to insufficient guidance on how devices worked.
• Using ICTs to build and maintain relationships was particularly valued by homeless drug users.
• The physical, human, cultural, and social capital of these users affected their interaction with ICTs.

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