While most people know how to get some food, they may not have regular meals. Even programs that serve three meals per day often serve the last meal in the afternoon. Medication that must be taken three times a day with food can be problematic. So is medication that must be taken on an empty stomach. It is dangerous to assume that a patient can anticipate when she will be offered food or that she can access water.
Adherence is complicated by fear of disclosure.
I've met sleep in them. Theft of belongings poses another obstacle to treatment adherence. When homeless men and women fall asleep in shelters or on the street, their chances of being victimized increase. Replacing stolen medication is often complicated by the loss of all identification that generally accompanies such thefts. The huge emotional toll of starting over in the system may lead the client to give up on the treatment regimen.