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Moreheart S, Shannon K, Krüsi A, McDermid J, Ettinger E, Braschel M, Goldenberg SM. Negative changes in illicit drug supply during COVID-19: Associations with use of overdose prevention and health services among women sex workers who use drugs (2020-2021). Int J Drug Policy 2023; 121:104212. [PMID: 37797570 PMCID: PMC10798550 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women sex workers are a highly criminalized population who are over-represented amongst people who use drugs (PWUD) and face gaps in overdose prevention and harm reduction services. British Columbia, Canada continues to face a pronounced drug poisoning crisis of the illicit drug supply, which has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to examine the prevalence and structural correlates of experiencing negative changes in illicit drug supply (e.g., availability, quality, cost, or access to drugs) amongst women sex workers who use drugs during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Cross-sectional questionnaire data were drawn from a prospective, community-based cohort of women sex workers in Vancouver (AESHA) from April 2020 to 2021. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate structural correlates of negative changes in drug supply during COVID-19 among sex workers who use drugs. RESULTS Among 179 sex workers who use drugs, 68.2% reported experiencing negative changes to drug supply during COVID-19, 54.2% recently accessed overdose prevention sites, and 44.7% reported experiencing recent healthcare barriers. In multivariable analysis adjusted for injection drug use, women who reported negative changes in illicit drug supply had higher odds of experiencing recent healthcare barriers (AOR 2.28, 95%CI 1.12-4.62); those recently accessing overdose prevention sites (AOR 1.75, 95%CI 0.86-3.54) faced marginally higher odds also. CONCLUSIONS Over two-thirds of participants experienced negative changes to illicit drug supply during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The association between experiencing negative changes in the illicit drug supply and accessing overdose prevention services highlights the agency of women in taking measures to address overdose-related risks. Highly criminalized women who experience structural barriers to direct services are also vulnerable to fluctuations in the illicit drug supply. Attenuating health consequences requires interventions tailored to sex workers' needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Moreheart
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, UBC Faculty of Medicine, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Kate Shannon
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, UBC Faculty of Medicine, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Andrea Krüsi
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, UBC Faculty of Medicine, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Jennifer McDermid
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, UBC Faculty of Medicine, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Emma Ettinger
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, UBC Faculty of Medicine, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Melissa Braschel
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, UBC Faculty of Medicine, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Shira Miriam Goldenberg
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, UBC Faculty of Medicine, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4162, United States.
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Gaines TL, Rudolph AE, Brouwer KC, Strathdee SA, Lozada R, Martinez G, Goldenberg SM, Rusch MLA. The longitudinal association of venue stability with consistent condom use among female sex workers in two Mexico-USA border cities. Int J STD AIDS 2013; 24:523-9. [PMID: 23970766 DOI: 10.1177/0956462412473890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We examined the relationship between venue stability and consistent condom use (CCU) among female sex workers who inject drugs (FSW-IDUs; n = 584) and were enrolled in a behavioural intervention in two Mexico-USA border cities. Using a generalized estimating equation approach stratified by client type and city, we found venue stability affected CCU. In Tijuana, operating primarily indoors was significantly associated with a four-fold increase in the odds of CCU among regular clients (odds ratio [OR]: 3.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44, 9.89), and a seven-fold increase among casual clients (OR: 7.18, 95% CI: 2.32, 22.21), relative to FSW-IDUs spending equal time between indoor and outdoor sex work venues. In Ciudad Juarez, the trajectory of CCU increased over time and was highest among those operating primarily indoors. Results from this analysis highlight the importance of considering local mobility, including venue type and venue stability, as these characteristics jointly influence HIV risk behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- T L Gaines
- Division of Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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