Unsafe Sexual Behaviour Associated with Hazardous Alcohol Use Among Street-Involved Youth

While risky sexual behaviours related to illicit drug use among street youth have been explored, the impacts of alcohol use have received less attention. This longitudinal study examined hazardous alcohol use among a population of street-involved youth, with particular attention to sexual and drug-related risk behaviours. Data were derived from the At-Risk Youth Study, a prospective cohort of street-involved youth in Vancouver, Canada. The outcome of interest was hazardous alcohol use defined by the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. We used generalized estimating equations (GEEs) analyses to identify factors associated with hazardous alcohol use. Between 2005 and 2014, 1149 drug using youth were recruited and 629 (55%) reported hazardous alcohol use in the previous 6 months during study follow-up. In multivariable GEE analyses, unprotected sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.12-1.46) and homelessness (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.19-1.54) were independently associated with hazardous alcohol use (all p < .001). Older age (AOR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92 0.99), Caucasian ethnicity (AOR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.61-0.90), daily heroin use (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.42 0.67), daily crack cocaine smoking (AOR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.59-0.91), and daily crystal methamphetamine use (AOR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.42-0.64) were negatively associated with hazardous alcohol use (all p < .05). In sub-analysis, consistent dose-response patterns were observed between levels of alcohol use and unprotected sex, homelessness, and daily heroin injection. In sum, hazardous alcohol use was positively associated with unsafe sexual behaviour and negatively associated with high-intensity drug use. Interventions to address hazardous alcohol use should be central to HIV prevention efforts for street-involved youth

Increasing Availability of Benzodiazepines Among People Who Inject Drugs in a Canadian Setting

Background: Benzodiazepine misuse is associated with mortality and is common among people who inject drugs (PWID). This study aimed to examine the temporal trends in the availability of benzodiazepines among PWID in a Canadian setting, and to identify factors associated with more immediate access to benzodiazepines. Methods: Data were derived from three prospective cohorts of PWID in Vancouver, Canada, between June 2012 and May 2015. The primary outcome was the perceived availability of benzodiazepines, measured in three levels: not available, delayed availability (available in ≥10 min), and immediate availability (available in <10 min). We used multivariable generalized estimating equations to identify factors associated with availability of benzodiazepines. Results: In total, 1641 individuals were included in these analyses. In multivariable analyses, factors associated with immediate benzodiazepine availability included incarceration (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.42, 95% CI1.06, 1.89) and participation in methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) (AOR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.14, 1.60). Factors associated with delayed benzodiazepine availability included incarceration (AOR: 1.45, 95% CI 1.02, 2.07) and MMT (AOR: 1.77, 95% CI 1.48, 2.12). Benzodiazepine availability increased throughout the study period for both immediate (AOR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.10, 1.18 per 6-month follow-up period) and delayed availability (AOR: 1.17, 95% CI 1.12, 1.22 per 6-month follow-up period). Conclusions: Among our sample of PWID, benzodiazepine availability is increasing and was associated with health and criminal justice system characteristics. Our findings indicate a need to examine prescribing practices and educate both PWID and healthcare providers about the risks associated with benzodiazepine use

Street-Involved Youth Engaged In Sex Work at Increased Risk of Syringe Sharing

Syringe sharing places street-involved young people at risk of acquiring HIV and hepatitis C. While markers of economic marginalization, such as homelessness, have been linked with syringe sharing and have led to targeted interventions, the relationship between syringe sharing and other markers of economic vulnerability, such as sex work, are not well documented among young people. This study examines whether those engaged in sex work are at increased risk of syringe borrowing and syringe lending among street-involved youth who use injection drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Between September 2005 and May 2014, data was collected from the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS), a prospective cohort of street involved youth aged 14-26. Generalized estimating equations with a confounding model building approach was used to examine the relationship between sex work and syringe borrowing and lending. 498 youth reported injecting drugs at some point during the study period and were therefore included in the analysis. In multivariable analysis, youth who engaged in sex work were at an elevated risk of both syringe borrowing (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.17, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.40-3.36) and syringe lending (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.07-2.59). Our study found that youth engaged in street-based sex work were at a significantly higher risk of both syringe borrowing and lending among youth who use injection drugs in Vancouver. Ready access to clean syringes, safer working conditions for sex workers to enable risk reduction measures, and increased access to addiction treatment are identified as promising opportunities for reducing syringe sharing in this setting

Increased Burden of Suicidality Among Young Street-Involved Sex Workers who Use Drugs in Vancouver, Canada

Abstract: Background: The risks of suicidality among street-involved youth who use drugs and engage in sex work is not well described. This study sought to evaluate if street-involved youth who engage in sex work were at an elevated risk for attempting suicide. Methods: Data were derived from the At-Risk Youth Study, a prospective cohort of street-involved youth who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Multivariable generalized estimating equation analyses were employed to examine whether youth who engaged in sex work were at elevated risk of attempting suicide, controlling for possible confounders. Results: Between September 2005 and May 2015, 1210 youth were recruited into the cohort, of whom, 173 (14.3%) reported recently attempting suicide at some point during the study period. In multivariable analysis, youth who engaged in sex work were significantly more likely to report a recent suicide attempt (adjusted odds ratio=1.93; 95% confidence interval: 1.28-2.91). Conclusions: Street-involved youth who engage in sex work were observed to be at a significantly higher risk for suicidality. Systematic discrimination and unaddressed trauma may contribute to the observed increased burden of suicidality among this population. Interventions that support the mental health and well-being of street-involved youth who engage in sex work are urgently needed

Awareness of Fentanyl Exposure and the Associated Overdose Risks Among People Who Inject Drugs in a Canadian Setting

Introduction and Aims: Illicitly-manufactured fentanyl continues to fuel the opioidoverdose crisis throughout the United States and Canada. However, little is known about factors associated with knowingly or unknowingly using fentanyl. Therefore, we sought to identify the prevalence and correlates of suspected/known and unknown exposure to fentanyl (excluding the prescribed one) among people who inject drugs (PWID), including associated overdose risks.   Design and Methods: Data were derived from three prospective cohort studies of community-recruited people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada in 2016–2017. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify correlates of suspected/known exposure (i.e., urine drug screen positive [UDS+] and self-reporting past three-day exposure) and unknown exposure to fentanyl (i.e., UDS+ and self-reporting no past three day exposure), respectively.   Results: Among 590 PWID, 296 (50.2%) tested positive for fentanyl. Of those, 143 (48.3%) had suspected/known and 153 (51.7%) had unknown exposure to fentanyl. In multivariable analyses, using supervised injection sites and possessing naloxone were associated with both suspected/known and unknown exposure (all p<0.05). Injecting drugs alone (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 3.26; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.72–6.16) was associated with known exposure, but not with unknown exposure.   Discussion and Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of fentanyl exposure in our sample of PWID, with one half of those exposed consuming fentanyl unknowingly. While those exposed to fentanyl appeared more likely to utilize some overdose prevention services, PWID with suspected/known fentanyl exposure were more likely to inject alone, indicating a need for additional overdose prevention efforts for this group

Intentional Cannabis Use to Reduce Crack Cocaine Use in a Canadian Setting: A Longitudinal Analysis

Background: No effective pharmacotherapies exist for the treatment of crack cocaine use disorders. Emerging data suggests that cannabinoids may play a role in reducing cocaine related craving symptoms. This study investigated the intentional use of cannabis to reduce crack use among people who use illicit drugs (PWUD). Methods: Data were drawn from three prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada. Using data from participants reporting intentional cannabis use to control crack use, we used generalized linear mixed-effects modeling to estimate the independent effect of three predefined intentional cannabis use periods (i.e., before, during and after first reported intentional use to reduce crack use) on frequency of crack use. Results: Between 2012 and 2015, 122 participants reported using cannabis to reduce crack use, contributing a total of 620 observations. In adjusted analyses, compared to before periods, after periods were associated with reduced frequency of crack use (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.89, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.02–3.45), but not the intentional use periods (AOR= 0.85, 95% CI: 0.51–1.41). Frequency of cannabis use in after periods was higher than in before periods (AOR = 4.72, 95% CI: 2.47–8.99), and showed a tendency to lower frequency than in intentional cannabis use periods (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32–1.01). Conclusions: A period of intentional cannabis use to reduce crack use was associated with decreased frequency of crack use in subsequent periods among PWUD. Further clinical research to assess the potential of cannabinoids for the treatment of crack use disorders is warranted

Increasing Diversion of Methadone in Vancouver, Canada, 2005-2015

Background and Aim: Although methadone, an opioid agonist, has been an effective medication used to treat opioid use disorder for over 40 years, recent studies have found that methadone was identified in more than a quarter of prescription opioid-related deaths among people who use illicit drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Thus, we sought to longitudinally examine the availability of diverted methadone among people who inject drugs (PWID). Design and Methods: Data were collected from three prospective cohorts of PWID in Vancouver, Canada between December 2005 and May 2015. Multivariable generalized estimating equation logistic regression was used to identify temporal trends in the immediate availability of diverted methadone (defined as the ability to acquire illicit methadone in <10 minutes). Results: A total of 2092 participants, including 727 (34.8%) women, were included in the present study. In the multivariable analyses after adjusting for a range of potential confounders, later calendar year (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.21 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–1.23) was independently and positively associated with reporting immediate availability of diverted methadone. Conclusions: We observed a significant increase in the reported availability of diverted methadone among PWID over a ten-year follow-up period. Further research is needed to identify strategies to limit methadone diversion and assess the impact of alternative medications that are equally effective but safer, such as buprenorphine/naloxone

Impact of unstable housing on all-cause mortality among persons who inject drugs

BACKGROUND: Illicit drug injecting is a well-established risk factor for morbidity and mortality. However, a limited number of prospective studies have examined the independent effect of unstable housing on mortality among persons who inject drugs (PWIDs). In this study we sought to identify if a relationship exists between unstable housing and all-cause mortality among PWIDs living in Vancouver, Canada. METHODS: PWIDs participating in two prospective cohort studies in Vancouver, Canada were followed between May 1996 and December 2012. Cohort data were linked to the provincial vital statistics database to ascertain mortality rates and causes of death. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression to determine factors associated with all-cause mortality and to investigate the independent relationship between unstable housing and time to all-cause mortality. RESULTS: During the study period, 2453 individuals were followed for a median of 69 months (Inter-quartile range [IQR]: 34 – 113). In total, there were 515 (21.0%) deaths for an incidence density of 3.1 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 2.8 – 3.4) deaths per 100 person years. In multivariate analyses, after adjusting for potential confounders including HIV infection and drug use patterns, unstable housing remained independently associated with all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.08 – 1.56). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that unstable housing is an important risk factor for mortality independent of known risk factors including HIV infection and patterns of drug use. This study highlights the urgent need to provide supportive housing interventions to address elevated levels of preventable mortality among this population