In the Spring of 2006, a student named Masuma Bahora wrote a thesis in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education in the Rollins School of Public Health in the Graduate Division of the University of California at Berkeley. Titled “Investing in the Narrative: Perceptions & Attitudes of Substance Use among Homeless Youth in Berkeley, California,” this study methodically explores the culture of substance use among Berkeley street youth, informed by Masuma’s experiences with the Suitcase Clinic while serving as an Americorps volunteer. “Acknowledging the limited research on the larger context in which these youth operate, this study explores the experiences, perceptions, and motivations surrounding personal substance use among this population.” Her thoughtful investigation makes extensive reference to data collected at the Suitcase Clinic’s Youth Clinic, and represents another crucial piece of scholarship on our organization’s mission and efficacy. Masuma has contributed richly to the Suitcase Clinic’s growing body of professional literature by making this document available.
The entirety of her study can be read below in a search engine-friendly format: Continue reading ‘“Investing in the Narrative: Perceptions & Attitudes of Substance Use among Homeless Youth in Berkeley, California”’
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