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Employing data from a 1987 shelter survey of 1260 homeless adults in New York City, multivariate models of emergency room (ER) use are developed which include an array of risk factors for visiting a hospital ER including health and mental health problems, victimization and injuries. The study's primary goal is to identify factors that predict ER use in this population. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were tested separately for men and women predicting three outcomes: any use of the ER during the past 6 months, use of the ER for injuries vs all other reasons (given any ER use), and the number of ER visits (given any ER use). Lower alcohol dependence, health symptoms and injuries were strong predictors for both men and women; other significant predictors differed markedly by gender. Both models were highly significant and produced strikingly high risk profiles. A high prevalence of victimization and injuries underlies ER use among the homeless. Based upon the findings, we recommend expanded health and victim services as well as preventive measures. Until primary care becomes available for this population, we advise against policies that discourage ER use by the homeless. Key words - emergency room services, homelessness, service utilization, victimization, injuries

This paper focuses on the treatment experiences of women opiate users in New York City. Historically, drug research has used male samples, and drug treatment programs have been based upon the concerns of men. Treatment counselors and administrators are typically male, and female clients are frequently outnumbered by male clients. In addition, unique needs of women are not addressed. Primary among these needs is child care, a provision that is not a standard feature of most programs. Additionally, many women opiate users may be in dysfunctional families and/or have histories of sexual victimization that may require special counselling. Using data from 208 women drug users who had been in an opiate treatment program, this paper examines their perceptions of the extent to which these programs incorporate women's distinctive concerns and the degree to which such provisions are affected by the perceived numbers of women clients in these programs.

Educational programs must reassess its procedures in accordance with the growing diversity of the population particularly the rapid growth of the Hispanic community. New York City's Expanded Food and Nutrition Program has this need with a nutrition education program tailored for Hispanic and other cultural communities. The nutrition education program consist of interactions on a person to person basis, or in groups, as well as training members in communication. They are always ready to inform the public on healthy nutrition.

Firefighting in New York City has been an occupation resistant to proletarianization, the situation in which workers lose control over their work and are left with nothing to sell but their labor. Hazards intrinsic to firefighting have made it difficult to supplant firefighters with unskilled workers. The social organization of the firehouse has similarly protected their autonomy. In addition, their beliefs about belonging to an elite profession committed to 'heroism,' or sacrifice in the presence of physical danger, have provided a powerful buffer against external regulation. Rational capitalist organization, however, is now penetrating this social-cum-occupational group, proletarianizing firefighting and transforming it from a profession into a job. Key words: proletarianization, 'heroism' and risk, firefighters, USA