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El-Daly MM, Zaher KA, Zaki EA, Bajrai LH, Alhazmi MM, Abdulhaq A, Azhar EI. Immunological and molecular assessment of HIV-1 mutations for antiretroviral drug resistance in Saudi Arabia. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304408. [PMID: 38923958 PMCID: PMC11207162 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a significant threat to public health. HIV genotyping and antiretroviral resistance testing may have contributed to improved non-treated management. Immune markers might assist HIV-1 diagnosis and drug-resistant variant identification. HIV-1 immunogenicity and molecular characteristics of antiretroviral drug resistance are evaluated in 56 treatment-naive HIV patients. DNA sequencing and retroviral resistance testing identified HIV-1 genotypes. 55.4% of patients were susceptible to protease inhibitors (PI), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI), and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) antiretroviral drugs, whereas 44.6% had drug-resistance mutations against at least one antiretroviral drug. 3.6% of cases had PI-resistant mutations, while 30.4% had NRTI-resistant mutations, and 30.4% had NNRTI-resistant mutations. In patients who are susceptible to PI, the mean value of human plasma sCD80 is 2.11 ± 0.65 ng/mL; in patients with mutations, it is 3.93 ± 2.91 ng/mL. Individuals who are susceptible to PI have plasma sCD27 levels of 78.7 ± 63.2 U/mL, whereas individuals who are mutant have levels of 56.5 ± 32.1 U/mL. IP-10's mean value was 363 ± 109.2 pg/mL for the susceptible patients and 429 ± 20.7 pg/mL for the mutated patients. In susceptible patients, the plasma sCD4 level is 0.163 ± 0.229 ng/mL; in mutant patients, it is 0.084 ± 0.012 ng/mL. The data showed a relative relation between immunological parameters such as sCD80, sCD27, sCD4, and IP-10 and mutation for drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai M. El-Daly
- Special Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kawther A. Zaher
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Immunology Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eitezaz A. Zaki
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Virology, Jeddah Regional Lab, Ministry of Health, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leena H. Bajrai
- Special Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad M. Alhazmi
- FACP, Arab Board of Internal Medicine, Saudi Board of Internal Medicine, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Abdulhaq
- Deanship of Scientific Affairs and Research, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Esam I. Azhar
- Special Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Hayashi K, Rabu G, Cui Z, Klaire S, Homayra F, Milloy MJ, Nosyk B. Characterizing the Use of Healthcare Access Supports Among People Who Use Drugs in Vancouver, Canada, 2017 to 2020: A Cohort Study. SUBSTANCE USE & ADDICTION JOURNAL 2024:29767342241249870. [PMID: 38804580 DOI: 10.1177/29767342241249870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For structurally marginalized populations, including people who use drugs (PWUD), equitable access to healthcare can be achieved through healthcare access supports. However, few studies characterized utilization of formal (eg, outreach workers, healthcare professionals) and informal (eg, friends/family) supports. Therefore, we sought to estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with receiving each type of support among PWUD. METHODS We used data from 2 prospective cohort studies of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada, in 2017 to 2020. We constructed separate multivariable generalized linear mixed-effects models to identify factors associated with receiving each of the 3 types of supports (ie, healthcare professionals, outreach workers/peer navigators, and informal supports) compared to no supports. RESULTS Of 996 participants, 350 (35.1%) reported receiving supports in the past 6 months at baseline, through informal supports (6.2%), outreach workers (14.1%), and healthcare professionals (20.9%). In multivariable analyses, HIV positivity, chronic pain, and avoiding healthcare due to the past mistreatment were positively associated with receiving supports from each of healthcare professionals and outreach workers. Men were less likely to receive any types of the supports (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Utilization of healthcare access supports was relatively low in this sample. However, formal supports appeared to have reached PWUD exhibiting more comorbidities and experiencing discrimination in healthcare. Further efforts to make formal supports more available would benefit PWUD with unmet healthcare needs, particularly men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Gabrielle Rabu
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Zishan Cui
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sukhpreet Klaire
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Interdepartmental Division of Addiction Medicine, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Family Practice, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Michael-John Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Social Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Bohdan Nosyk
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Karamouzian M, Cui Z, Hayashi K, DeBeck K, Reddon H, Buxton JA, Kerr T. Longitudinal polysubstance use patterns and non-fatal overdose: A repeated measures latent class analysis. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2024:104301. [PMID: 38182524 PMCID: PMC11222307 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polysubstance use (PSU) is common among people who use opioids (PWUO) and has been associated with drug-related harms. We aimed to identify latent longitudinal PSU classes among a cohort of PWUO and characterize non-fatal overdose risks among different sub-classes over time. METHODS We used longitudinal data (2005-2018) from three ongoing prospective cohorts of people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. The primary outcome of interest was self-reported non-fatal overdose during the past six months. The primary exposure of interest was longitudinal PSU patterns among PWUO, obtained from repeated measures latent class analysis (RMLCA) of weekly substance use-related outcome indicators. Multivariable generalized estimating equations models were built to assess the association between latent PSU class membership and non-fatal overdose, adjusting for potential sociodemographic, behavioural, and structural confounders. RESULTS 2627 PWUO were included in the analysis, and 1094 (41.6 %) had experienced at least one non-fatal overdose during the study period. RMLCA revealed five distinct latent longitudinal PSU classes, including low/infrequent use (Class 1; 30 %), primarily opioid and methamphetamine use (Class 2; 22 %), primarily cannabis use (Class 3; 15 %), primarily opioid and crack use (Class 4; 29 %), and frequent PSU (Class 5; 4 %). In comparison with Class 1 (low), membership in all latent PSU classes except Class 3 (cannabis) was associated with increased odds of non-fatal overdose: Class 2 (opioids + meth) vs. Class 1 (Adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 2.20, 95 % confidence intervals [CI]: 1.51-3.22), Class 4 (opioids + crack) vs. Class 1 (aOR = 1.06, 95 % CI: 0.85-1.33), and Class 5 (frequent) vs. Class 1 (aOR = 2.39, 95 % CI: 1.92-2.97). CONCLUSION Our findings highlighted the heterogeneous characteristics of PWUO in terms of patterns of PSU and non-fatal overdose risk. The diverse nature of PWUO and the potential additive or multiplicative impact of using several substances on overdoses should be reflected across the substance use treatment continuum and care provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Karamouzian
- Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, Saint Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1T8, Canada; British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada.
| | - Zishan Cui
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V6B 5K3, Canada
| | - Hudson Reddon
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Jane A Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
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Hayashi K, Singh Kelsall T, Shane C, Cui Z, Milloy MJ, DeBeck K, Kerr T. Police seizure of drugs without arrest among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada, before provincial 'decriminalization' of simple possession: a cohort study. Harm Reduct J 2023; 20:117. [PMID: 37644428 PMCID: PMC10466876 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00833-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several jurisdictions in Canada have recently considered decriminalizing possession of illicit drugs for personal use (henceforth, simple possession) as part of their responses to the ongoing drug toxicity/overdose crisis. In this context, we sought to examine an early implementation case of a de facto depenalization policy of simple possession offences in Vancouver, Canada, that was enacted in 2006. Specifically, we characterized experiences of people who use drugs (PWUD) whose drugs were discretionally seized by police without arrest. METHODS Data were derived from three prospective cohorts of community-recruited PWUD in Vancouver over 16 months in 2019-2021. We conducted multivariable generalized estimating equations analyses to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with drug seizure. Sub-analyses used data collected in 2009-2012 and examined the trends over time. RESULTS Among 995 participants who were interviewed in 2019-2021, 63 (6.3%) had their drugs seized by police at least once in the past 6 months. In multivariable analyses, factors significantly associated with drug seizure included: homelessness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-3.61), working in the unregulated drug market (AOR: 4.93; 95% CI 2.87-8.49), and naloxone administration (AOR: 2.15; 95% CI 1.23-3.76). In 2009-2012, 67.8% reported having obtained new drugs immediately after having their drugs seized by police. Odds of drug seizure were not significantly different between the two time periods (2019-2021 vs. 2009-2012) (AOR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.64-1.35). CONCLUSIONS Despite the depenalization policy, the Vancouver Police Department has continued to seize illicit drugs from PWUD, even in cases where no arrest occurred. This policing practice may create health and safety risks for PWUD as it forces PWUD to increase the engagement with the unregulated illicit drug market. Our findings support calls for abolishing this often-undocumented discretionary policing practice that may exacerbate ongoing health inequities and interfere with peer-based overdose prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Tyson Singh Kelsall
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Caitlin Shane
- Pivot Legal Society, 121 Heatley Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6A 3E9, Canada
| | - Zishan Cui
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada
- School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings Street, Office 3269, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5K3, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
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Follmann DA, Fay MP. Vaccine efficacy at a point in time. Biostatistics 2023; 24:603-617. [PMID: 35296878 PMCID: PMC10544797 DOI: 10.1093/biostatistics/kxac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccine trials are generally designed to assess efficacy on clinical disease. The vaccine effect on infection, while important both as a proxy for transmission and to describe a vaccine's entire effects, requires frequent (e.g., twice a week) longitudinal sampling to capture all infections. Such sampling may not always be feasible. A logistically easy approach is to collect a sample to test for infection at a regularly scheduled visit. Such point or cross-sectional sampling does not permit estimation of classic vaccine efficacy on infection, as long duration infections are sampled with higher probability. Building on work by Rinta-Kokko and others (2009) and Lipsitch and Kahn (2021), we evaluate proxies of the vaccine effect on transmission at a point in time; the vaccine efficacy on prevalent infection and on prevalent viral load, VE$_{\rm PI}$ and VE$_{\rm PVL}$, respectively. Longer infections with higher viral loads should have more transmission potential and prevalent vaccine efficacy naturally captures this aspect. We demonstrate how these parameters obtain from an underlying proportional hazards model for infection and allow for waning efficacy on infection, duration, and viral load. We estimate these parameters based on regression models with either repeated cross-sectional sampling or frequent longitudinal sampling. We evaluate the methods by simulation and analyze a phase III vaccine trial with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cross-sectional sampling for subclinical infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean A Follmann
- Biostatistics Research Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 5601 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael P Fay
- Biostatistics Research Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 5601 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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El-Akkad SED, Nolan S, Hayashi K, Dong H, MJ-Milloy, Debeck K, Ti L. Factors associated with patient perceived suboptimal dosing of in-hospital opioid agonist therapy among people who use illicit drugs in Vancouver, Canada. J Addict Dis 2023; 41:204-212. [PMID: 35727118 PMCID: PMC9768102 DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2022.2088014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Optimal dosing of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is essential for treatment success. However, initiation and maintenance of OAT in hospital settings can be challenging given differing levels of opioid tolerance, withdrawal, and intoxication among patients. The objective of this study was to characterize the prevalence and factors associated with in-hospital patient perceived suboptimal OAT dosing among people who use illicit drugs (PWUD) in Vancouver, Canada. Data were derived from three prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with patient perceived suboptimal in-hospital OAT dose. 273 study participants were prescribed OAT while in hospital: 83 (30.4%) participants perceived their OAT dose to be suboptimal. In a multivariable model, factors positively associated with a perceived suboptimal OAT dose included: homelessness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.85; 95% CI: 1.53-5.28), daily stimulant use (AOR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.14-3.63) and illicit drug use while in hospital (AOR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.31-4.16). Almost one third of participants perceived receiving a suboptimal OAT dose while in hospital. These observed correlations indicate that a patient's perception of suboptimal OAT dosing in hospital may be more prevalent for patients who are homeless, report polysubstance use with stimulants and opioids and who obtain illicit drugs while hospitalized. While cautious prescribing of OAT in patients experiencing hospitalization is important, these findings demonstrate a high prevalence of and apparent risk factors for perceived suboptimal OAT dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saif-El-Din El-Akkad
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
| | - Seonaid Nolan
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9
| | - MJ-Milloy
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9
| | - Kora Debeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9
- School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Lianping Ti
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul’s Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9
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van Santen DK, Lodi S, Dietze P, van den Boom W, Hayashi K, Dong H, Cui Z, Maher L, Hickman M, Boyd A, Prins M. Comprehensive needle and syringe program and opioid agonist therapy reduce HIV and hepatitis c virus acquisition among people who inject drugs in different settings: A pooled analysis of emulated trials. Addiction 2023; 118:1116-1126. [PMID: 36710474 PMCID: PMC10175130 DOI: 10.1111/add.16147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Although the Netherlands, Canada and Australia were early adopters of harm reduction for people who inject drugs (PWID), their respective HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) epidemics differ. We measured the pooled effect of needle and syringe program (NSP) and opioid agonist therapy (OAT) participation on HIV and HCV incidence in these settings. DESIGN For each cohort, we emulated the design and statistical analysis of a target trial using observational data. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS We included PWID at risk of HIV or HCV infection from the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (1985-2013), Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (1997-2009) and Melbourne Injecting Drug User Cohort Study (SuperMIX) (2010-2021). MEASUREMENTS Separately for each infection and cohort (only HCV in SuperMIX), marginal structural models were used to compare the effect of comprehensive (on OAT and 100% NSP coverage or on OAT only if no recent injection drug use) versus no/partial NSP/OAT (no OAT and/or <100% NSP coverage) participation. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. FINDINGS We observed 94 HIV seroconversions and 81 HCV seroconversions among 2023 and 430 participants, respectively. Comprehensive NSP/OAT led to a 41% lower risk of HIV acquisition (pooled HR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.36-0.96) and a 76% lower risk of HCV acquisition (pooled HR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.11-0.51), compared with no/partial NSP/OAT, with little heterogeneity between studies for both infections (I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS In the Netherlands, Canada and Australia, comprehensive needle and syringe program and opioid agonist therapy participation appears to substantially reduce HIV and hepatitis C acquisition compared with no or partial needle and syringe program/opioid agonist therapy participation. These findings from an emulated trial design reinforce the critical role of comprehensive access to harm reduction in optimizing infection prevention for people who inject drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela K. van Santen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Research and Prevention, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Disease Elimination, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sara Lodi
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Paul Dietze
- Department of Disease Elimination, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Zishan Cui
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Lisa Maher
- The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew Hickman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Anders Boyd
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Research and Prevention, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Stichting HIV Monitoring, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Prins
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Research and Prevention, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity (AII), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute (APH), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Jaibat L, Cui Z, Mitra S, Loh J, Reddon H, Fairbairn N, Milloy MJ. Perceived Mistreatment in Health Care Settings and its Relationship with HIV Clinical Outcomes in HIV-positive People who Use Drugs in Vancouver, Canada. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:1636-1646. [PMID: 36318426 PMCID: PMC10149567 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03895-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
People living with HIV (PLWH) often experience stigma and discrimination by health care professionals. We investigated the prevalence of perceived mistreatment in health care settings and its associations with HIV clinical outcomes and health care-seeking behaviour using data from a long-running prospective cohort of PLWH who use drugs. Of the 857 participants included, 19% reported at least one instance of perceived mistreatment during the study period. In adjusted longitudinal analyses, perceived mistreatment was positively associated with not being on ART in the same follow-up period, and participants who reported perceived mistreatment were less likely to report seeing a physician in the subsequent follow-up period. Daily use of injection drugs was positively associated with reporting perceived mistreatment. These findings demonstrate the implications of negative health care interactions in a population that must consistently engage with the health care system, and the need for stigma-reducing educational interventions for health care professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Jaibat
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Zishan Cui
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, 400-1045 Howe St, V6Z2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sanjana Mitra
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, 400-1045 Howe St, V6Z2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jane Loh
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, 400-1045 Howe St, V6Z2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hudson Reddon
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, 400-1045 Howe St, V6Z2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of social medicine, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, 400-1045 Howe St, V6Z2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Division of social medicine, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Brooks O, Hayashi K, Cui Z, Milloy MJ, Kerr T, Fairbairn N. Re-incarceration and associated social, structural and behavioural factors among people who use drugs in an urban Canadian setting. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 115:104018. [PMID: 37060885 PMCID: PMC10683765 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who use drugs (PWUD) are disproportionately incarcerated, however little is known about specific substance use, social and structural factors associated with re-incarceration among PWUD. We aimed to identify the socio-structural and substance use factors associated with re-incarceration among structurally-marginalized PWUD. METHODS We used longitudinal data from two prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada. We included adults reporting at least one incarceration event in the last six months and who completed at least one additional follow-up study visit. We performed multivariable extended Cox regression to explore factors associated with re-incarceration. RESULTS Among 468 eligible participants, the median age was 40 years (Q1-Q3 = 34-46 years), 346 (73.9%) were men, 177 (37.8%) identified as Indigenous, and 227 (48.5%) experienced at least one re-incarceration event. Incidence rate of re-incarceration was 157 incarceration events per 1000 person years. In multivariable analyses, homelessness (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 2.17; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.79-2.61), community judicial supervision (AHR = 3.89; 95% CI: 3.21-4.71) and re-incarceration during the study period (once: AHR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.55-2.44; two or more events: AHR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.23-1.90) were positively associated with re-incarceration. Among substance use variables that included illicit drugs, only heavy alcohol use remained significantly associated with re-incarceration across analyses after adjustment (AHR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.06-1.65). Engagement in addiction treatment (AHR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.53-0.75), mental illness (AHR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.59-0.84) and age (AHR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95-0.97) were negatively associated with re-incarceration. CONCLUSION Access to housing and substance use services, including treatment for alcohol use disorder, following incarceration may reduce re-incarceration among PWUD. The high rates of re-incarceration of PWUD in our sample underscores how structural factors-such as homelessness and criminalization of substance use-drive re-incarceration among PWUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Brooks
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Zishan Cui
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Karamouzian M, Buxton JA, Hategeka C, Nosova E, Hayashi K, Milloy MJ, Kerr T. Shifts in substance use patterns among a cohort of people who use opioids after delisting of OxyContin in BC, Canada: An interrupted time series study. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 109:103852. [PMID: 36122483 PMCID: PMC9885984 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND OxyContin was delisted from Canadian provincial drug formularies in March 2012 and replaced with a reformulated tamper-resistant form of oxycodone (i.e., OxyNeo). We assessed if delisting of OxyContin was associated with changes in the use of unregulated opioids and other substances among people who use opioids (PWUO). METHODS Data were derived from two prospective cohort studies of people who use drugs in Vancouver, BC, Canada from 2006 to 2018. PWUO who had at least one follow-up visit before and after delisting of OxyContin were included. Outcomes of interest were self-reported regular (i.e., at least weekly) use of heroin, non-prescribed prescription opioids, cannabis, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine during the previous six months. Using quasi-experimental interrupted time series, we fit generalized least squares models to assess participants' immediate and long-term substance use practices after the policy change. RESULTS We analyzed data from 1014 participants who contributed to 17457 visits during the study. Following the delisting of OxyContin, heroin use increased immediately by 5.17% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.68 to 9.67) and over time by 0.47% (0.35 to 0.58) per month. Non-prescribed prescription opioid use increased immediately by 1.80% (0.10 to 3.50) and over time by 0.16% (0.12 to 0.19) per month. Cannabis use increased immediately by 4.37% (0.88 to 7.87) and over time by 0.11% (0.02 to 0.19) per month. Methamphetamine use did not increase immediately but increased over time by 0.10% (0.01 to 0.18) per month. Crack cocaine use decreased immediately by 6.13% (-10.94 to -1.69) but not significantly over time. Lastly, powder cocaine use did not increase immediately or over time. CONCLUSIONS Delisting of OxyContin in BC was not associated with a reduction in unregulated opioid use among PWUO. Our findings point to a shift in substance use patterns of PWUO post-intervention and further highlight the unintended consequences of supply-reduction interventions in addressing the opioid epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Karamouzian
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3; Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, Saint Michael...s Hospital, Toronto, ON, CANADA, M5B 1T8.
| | - Jane A Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3
| | - Celestin Hategeka
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115,USA; Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3
| | - Ekaterina Nosova
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 2A9; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
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Low awareness of risk mitigation prescribing in response to dual crises of COVID-19 and overdose deaths among people who use unregulated drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Harm Reduct J 2022; 19:50. [PMID: 35614440 PMCID: PMC9131310 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-022-00632-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background When the novel coronavirus pandemic emerged in March 2020, many settings across Canada and the USA were already contending with an existing crisis of drug overdoses due to the toxic unregulated drug supply. In response, the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) released innovative risk mitigation prescribing (RMP) guidelines for medical professionals to prescribe pharmaceutical alternatives to unregulated drugs in an effort to support the self-isolation of people who use unregulated drugs (PWUD) in preventing both SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and overdoses. We sought to assess the level of awareness of RMP and identify factors associated with this awareness among PWUD in Vancouver, BC.
Methods Cross-sectional data were derived from participants enrolled in three community-recruited prospective cohort studies of PWUD in Vancouver, interviewed between July and November 2020. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with awareness of RMP.
Results Among 633 participants, 302 (47.7%) had heard of RMP. Of those 302 participants, 199 (65.9%) had never tried to access RMP services, ten (3.3%) made an unsuccessful attempt to access RMP, and 93 (30.8%) received RMP. In the multivariable analysis, participants who had awareness of RMP guidelines were more likely to self-identify as white (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 2.13), to have completed secondary school education or higher (AOR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.39), to have used drugs at a supervised consumption or overdose prevention site in the past six months (AOR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.52), and to have received opioid agonist therapy as treatment for opioid use disorder in the past six months (AOR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.24). Conclusion At least four months after the release of the guidelines, RMP was known to less than half of our study participants, warranting urgent educational efforts for PWUD, particularly among racialized groups and those who were not accessing other harm reduction services. Furthermore, the majority of participants who were aware of RMP guidelines had never tried to access the service, suggesting the need to improve perceived accessibility and knowledge of eligibility criteria.
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Brooks O, Bach P, Dong H, Milloy MJ, Fairbairn N, Kerr T, Hayashi K. Crystal methamphetamine use subgroups and associated addiction care access and overdose risk in a Canadian urban setting. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 232:109274. [PMID: 35033951 PMCID: PMC8890780 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Methamphetamine use is rising globally and we have limited treatments for this. Subgroups within the diverse methamphetamine-using population may have distinct treatment needs. Among a community-recruited sample of people who use crystal methamphetamine, we aimed to identify subgroups and characterize their overdose risk and access to addiction care. METHODS Data from prospective cohorts of people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada from 2014 to 2018 were used to conduct a repeated measures latent class analysis among participants who used crystal methamphetamine. Multivariable generalized estimating equations models were fit to determine the associated factors. RESULTS Among 824 eligible participants, a five-class model was identified as the best fit: (1) primary stimulant use (15.7%); (2) women engaged in sex work and opioid use (21.4%); (3) street income generation and opioid use (31.6%); (4) opioid agonist therapy (OAT) patients (22.3%); and (5) men who have sex with men (9.0%). In multivariable analyses, compared to the primary stimulant use group, non-fatal overdose was positively associated with street income generation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.30-1.71), sex work (AOR = 1.38, 95% CI=1.20-1.59) and OAT (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI=1.06-1.41) subgroups; engagement in non-OAT addiction care was negatively associated with street income generation (AOR = 0.81, 95% CI=0.68-0.97) and sex work (AOR = 0.78, 95% CI=0.63-0.98) subgroups. DISCUSSION Socioeconomically marginalized subgroups with opioid and crystal methamphetamine co-use were at highest risk of non-fatal overdose and had poorer access to addiction care, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Brooks
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Rm 10203, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Paxton Bach
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Rm 10203, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - M.-J. Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Rm 10203, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Rm 10203, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Rm 10203, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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Moallef S, DeBeck K, Fairbairn N, Cui Z, Brar R, Wilson D, Johnson C, Milloy MJ, Hayashi K. Inability to contact opioid agonist therapy prescribers during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Canadian setting: a cross-sectional analysis among people on opioid agonist therapy. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2022; 17:73. [PMID: 36522789 PMCID: PMC9751503 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-022-00354-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent public health response may have undermined key responses to the protracted drug poisoning crisis, including reduced access to opioid agonist therapy (OAT) among people with opioid use disorder. Our study objectives were to estimate the prevalence of and identify factors associated with inability to contact OAT prescribers when in need among people on OAT in a Canadian setting during the dual public health crises. METHODS Survey data were collected from three prospective cohort studies of community-recruited people who use drugs between July and November 2020, in Vancouver, Canada. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential factors associated with inability to contact OAT prescribers among patients who accessed OAT in the past 6 months. RESULTS Among 448 respondents who reported accessing OAT in the past 6 months, including 231 (54.9%) men, 85 (19.0%) reported having been unable to contact OAT prescribers when needed, whereas 268 (59.8%) reported being able to talk to their prescriber when needed, and 95 (21.2%) reported that they did not want to talk to their medication prescriber in the previous 6 months. Among those who reported inability to contact prescribers, 45 (53.6%) reported that their overall ability to contact prescribers decreased since the start of the pandemic. In multivariable analyses, factors independently associated with inability to talk to OAT prescribers included: chronic pain (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.82; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.02, 3.27), moderate to severe symptoms of depression or anxiety (AOR = 4.74; 95% CI 2.30, 9.76), inability to access health/social services (AOR = 2.66; 95% CI 1.41, 5.02), and inability to self-isolate or socially distance most or all of the time (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI 1.10, 4.14). CONCLUSIONS Overall, approximately one fifth of the sample reported inability to contact their OAT prescribers when needed, and those people were more likely to have co-occurring vulnerabilities (i.e., co-morbidities, inability to access health/social services) and higher vulnerability to COVID-19. Interventions are needed to ensure optimal access to OAT and mitigate the deepening health inequities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalating drug poisoning crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Moallef
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.61971.380000 0004 1936 7494School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Zishan Cui
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Rupinder Brar
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada ,grid.417243.70000 0004 0384 4428Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Dean Wilson
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada
| | - Cheyenne Johnson
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - M.-J. Milloy
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- grid.416553.00000 0000 8589 2327British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul’s Hospital, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.61971.380000 0004 1936 7494Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Canada
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Young S, Hayashi K, Grant C, Milloy MJ, DeBeck K, Wood E, Fairbairn N. Buprenorphine/naloxone associated with a reduced odds of fentanyl exposure among a cohort of people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 228:109006. [PMID: 34509737 PMCID: PMC8812726 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the relationship between opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and fentanyl use, specifically. This study aimed to estimate the association between current use of different forms of OAT, including methadone, buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP/NX), slow release oral morphine (SROM), or injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT), and the likelihood of a fentanyl-positive urine drug test (UDT) as compared to no OAT. METHODS Data were obtained from three community-recruited prospective cohort studies of people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada from December 2016 through November 2018. Using multivariable Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), we examined the association between current use of each form of OAT, as compared to no OAT, and fentanyl-positive UDT among participants who use opioids. RESULTS The 915 participants contributed 2112 UDTs over a median of two follow-up visits. The majority of UDTs (74.9 %) were positive for fentanyl. After adjustment for a priori defined confounding factors, compared to no OAT, current use of BUP/NX was associated with lower odds of fentanyl-positive UDT (odds ratio [OR] = 0.36, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.22-0.58) while current use of methadone (OR = 0.84, 95 % CI: 0.65-1.07), iOAT (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI: 0.75-2.28), and SROM (OR = 1.34, 95 % CI: 0.74-2.43) were not. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort of people who use opioids in Vancouver, only use of BUP/NX was associated with lower odds of fentanyl-positive UDT. Our findings highlight high rates of ongoing fentanyl use despite the use of OAT and support the expansion of BUP/NX for the treatment of people who use fentanyl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Young
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, 155 College St 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M6, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Cameron Grant
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - M J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 667-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9, Canada; School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, 888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Evan Wood
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 667-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 667-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
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Fraser H, Stone J, Wisse E, Sambu V, Mfisi P, Duran IJ, Soriano MA, Walker JG, Makere N, Luhmann N, Kafura W, Nouvellet M, Ragi A, Mundia B, Vickerman P. Modelling the impact of HIV and HCV prevention and treatment interventions for people who inject drugs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 24:e25817. [PMID: 34661964 PMCID: PMC8522890 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction People who inject drugs (PWID) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, have a high prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV). While needle and syringe programmes (NSP), opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and anti‐retroviral therapy (ART) are available in Tanzania, their coverage is sub‐optimal. We assess the impact of existing and scaled up harm reduction (HR) interventions on HIV and HCV transmission among PWID in Dar es Salaam. Methods An HIV and HCV transmission model among PWID in Tanzania was calibrated to data over 2006–2018 on HIV (∼30% and ∼67% prevalence in males and females in 2011) and HCV prevalence (∼16% in 2017), numbers on HR interventions (5254 ever on OAT in 2018, 766–1479 accessing NSP in 2017) and ART coverage (63.1% in 2015). We evaluated the impact of existing interventions in 2019 and impact by 2030 of scaling‐up the coverage of OAT (to 50% of PWID), NSP (75%, both combined termed “full HR”) and ART (81% with 90% virally suppressed) from 2019, reducing sexual HIV transmission by 50%, and/or HCV‐treating 10% of PWID infected with HCV annually. Results The model projects HIV and HCV prevalence of 19.0% (95% credibility interval: 16.4–21.2%) and 41.0% (24.4–49.0%) in 2019, respectively. For HIV, 24.6% (13.6–32.6%) and 70.3% (59.3–77.1%) of incident infections among male and female PWID are sexually transmitted, respectively. Due to their low coverage (22.8% for OAT, 16.3% for NSP in 2019), OAT and NSP averted 20.4% (12.9–24.7%) of HIV infections and 21.7% (17.0–25.2%) of HCV infections in 2019. Existing ART (68.5% coverage by 2019) averted 48.1% (29.7–64.3%) of HIV infections in 2019. Scaling up to full HR will reduce HIV and HCV incidence by 62.6% (52.5–74.0%) and 81.4% (56.7–81.4%), respectively, over 2019–2030; scaled up ART alongside full HR will decrease HIV incidence by 66.8% (55.6–77.5%), increasing to 81.5% (73.7–87.5%) when sexual risk is also reduced. HCV‐treatment alongside full HR will decrease HCV incidence by 92.4% (80.7–95.8%) by 2030. Conclusions Combination interventions, including sexual risk reduction and HCV treatment, are needed to eliminate HCV and HIV among PWID in Tanzania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Fraser
- Population HealthSciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jack Stone
- Population HealthSciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Veryeh Sambu
- National AIDS Control Programmes, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Peter Mfisi
- The Drug Control and Enforcement Authority, Prime Ministers Office, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | | | - Josephine G Walker
- Population HealthSciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Nobelrich Makere
- Tanzania Council for Social Development (TACOSODE), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - William Kafura
- Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Allan Ragi
- Kenya AIDS NGO Consortium, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Peter Vickerman
- Population HealthSciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Moallef S, Choi J, Milloy MJ, DeBeck K, Kerr T, Hayashi K. A drug-related Good Samaritan Law and calling emergency medical services for drug overdoses in a Canadian setting. Harm Reduct J 2021; 18:91. [PMID: 34446026 PMCID: PMC8393452 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-021-00537-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background People who use drugs (PWUD) are known to fear calling emergency medical services (EMS) for drug overdoses. In response, drug-related Good Samaritan Laws (GSLs) have been widely adopted in the USA and Canada to encourage bystanders to call emergency medical services (EMS) in the event of a drug overdose. However, the effect of GSLs on EMS-calling behaviours has been understudied. We sought to identify factors associated with EMS-calling, including the enactment of the Canadian GSL in May 2017, among PWUD in Vancouver, Canada, a setting with an ongoing overdose crisis. Methods Data were derived from three prospective cohort studies of PWUD in Vancouver in 2014–2018. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with EMS-calling among PWUD who witnessed an overdose event. An interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was employed to assess the impact of GSL on monthly prevalence of EMS-calling. Results Among 540 eligible participants, 321 (59%) were males and 284 (53%) reported calling EMS. In multivariable analysis, ever having administered naloxone three or more times (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–3.74) and residence in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) neighbourhood of Vancouver (AOR 1.96; 95% CI 1.23–3.13) were positively associated with EMS-calling, while living in a single occupancy hotel (SRO) was negatively associated with EMS-calling (AOR 0.51; 95% CI 0.30–0.86). The post-GSL enactment period was not associated with EMS-calling (AOR 0.81; 95% CI 0.52–1.25). The ITS found no significant difference in the monthly prevalence of EMS-calling between pre- and post-GSL enactment periods. Conclusion We observed EMS being called about half the time and the GSL did not appear to encourage EMS-calling. We also found that individuals living in SROs were less likely to call EMS, which raises concern given that fatal overdose cases are concentrated in SROs in our setting. The link between many naloxone administrations and EMS-calling could indicate that those with prior experience in responding to overdose events were more willing to call EMS. Increased efforts are warranted to ensure effective emergency responses for drug overdoses among PWUD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12954-021-00537-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Moallef
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada.,British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - JinCheol Choi
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada. .,British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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17
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Farahani M, Radin E, Saito S, Sachathep KK, Hladik W, Voetsch AC, Auld AF, Balachandra S, Tippett Barr BA, Low A, Smart TF, Musuka G, Jonnalagadda S, Hakim AJ, Wadonda-Kabondo NW, Jahn A, Mugurungi O, Williams DB, Barradas DT, Payne D, Parekh B, Patel H, Wiesner L, Hoos D, Justman JE. Population Viral Load, Viremia, and Recent HIV-1 Infections: Findings From Population-Based HIV Impact Assessments (PHIAs) in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021; 87:S81-S88. [PMID: 33560041 PMCID: PMC10998157 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV population viral load (PVL) can reflect antiretroviral therapy program effectiveness and transmission potential in a community. Using nationally representative data from household surveys conducted in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia in 2015-16, we examined the association between various VL measures and the probability of at least one recent HIV-1 infection in the community. METHODS We used limiting-antigen avidity enzyme immunoassay, viral load suppression (VLS) (HIV RNA <1000 copies/mL), and antiretrovirals in the blood to identify recent HIV-1 cases. RESULTS Among 1510 enumeration areas (EAs) across the 3 surveys, 52,036 adults aged 15-59 years resided in 1363 (90.3%) EAs with at least one HIV-positive adult consenting to interview and blood draw and whose VL was tested. Mean HIV prevalence across these EAs was 13.1% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 12.7 to 13.5]. Mean VLS prevalence across these EAs was 58.7% (95% CI: 57.3 to 60.0). In multivariable analysis, PVL was associated with a recent HIV-1 case in that EA (adjusted odds ratio: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.2 to 1.6, P = 0.001). VLS prevalence was inversely correlated with recent infections (adjusted odds ratio: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.6, P = 0.004). The 90-90-90 indicators, namely, the prevalence of HIV diagnosis, antiretroviral therapy coverage, and VLS at the EA level, were inversely correlated with HIV recency at the EA level. CONCLUSIONS We found a strong association between PVL and VLS prevalence and recent HIV-1 infection at the EA level across 3 southern African countries with generalized HIV epidemics. These results suggest that population-based measures of VLS in communities may serve as a proxy for epidemic control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wolfgang Hladik
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA
| | - Andrew C Voetsch
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA
| | - Andrew F Auld
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Malawi
| | - Shirish Balachandra
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Beth A Tippett Barr
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Zimbabwe
| | - Andrea Low
- ICAP at Columbia University, New York, NY
| | | | | | - Sasi Jonnalagadda
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA
| | - Avi J Hakim
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA
| | | | | | | | - Daniel B Williams
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA
| | - Danielle T Barradas
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Zambia and
| | - Danielle Payne
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Malawi
| | - Bharat Parekh
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA
| | - Hetal Patel
- Division of Global HIV&TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA
| | - Lubbe Wiesner
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; and
| | - David Hoos
- ICAP at Columbia University, New York, NY
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18
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Ferraro CF, Stewart DE, Grebely J, Tran LT, Zhou S, Puca C, Hajarizadeh B, Larney S, Santo T, Higgins JPT, Vickerman P, Degenhardt L, Hickman M, French CE. Association between opioid agonist therapy use and HIV testing uptake among people who have recently injected drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction 2021; 116:1664-1676. [PMID: 33140543 PMCID: PMC8248165 DOI: 10.1111/add.15316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Globally, nearly one in five people who inject drugs (PWID) are living with HIV, and the rate of new HIV infections in PWID is increasing in some settings. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective HIV control. We reviewed the evidence on the association between opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and HIV testing uptake among PWID. METHODS We conducted a systematic review searching MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and PsycINFO for studies published from January 2000 to March 2019. Reference lists and conference proceedings were hand-searched. Observational and intervention studies were eligible for inclusion. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models. RESULTS Of 13 373 records identified, 11 studies from Australia, Europe, Malaysia and the United States were included. All studies had at least a serious risk of bias, largely due to confounding and selection bias, making it difficult to draw causal conclusions from the evidence. Ten studies provided data on the association between current OAT use and recent HIV testing. Six showed a positive association, while four provided little evidence of an association: pooled odds ratio (OR) = 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.28-2.27. Looking at having ever been on OAT and having ever been HIV tested, seven studies showed a positive association and three showed either weak or no evidence of an association: pooled OR = 3.82, 95% CI = 2.96-4.95. CONCLUSIONS Opioid agonist therapy may increase uptake of HIV testing among people who inject drugs, providing further evidence that opioid agonist therapy improves the HIV treatment care cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire F. Ferraro
- Health Protection Research Unit, Population Health SciencesUniversity of BristolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, CliftonBristolBS8 2PSUK
- National Public Health Speciality Training Programme, South WestBristolUK
| | - Daniel E. Stewart
- Health Protection Research Unit, Population Health SciencesUniversity of BristolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, CliftonBristolBS8 2PSUK
- National Public Health Speciality Training Programme, South WestBristolUK
| | - Jason Grebely
- Kirby Institute, University of South Wales SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Lucy T. Tran
- National Drug and Alcohol Research CentreUniversity of South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shally Zhou
- National Drug and Alcohol Research CentreUniversity of South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carla Puca
- National Drug and Alcohol Research CentreUniversity of South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Sarah Larney
- National Drug and Alcohol Research CentreUniversity of South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency MedicineUniversité de Montréal and Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM)QuebecCanada
| | - Thomas Santo
- National Drug and Alcohol Research CentreUniversity of South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Julian P. T. Higgins
- Health Protection Research Unit, Population Health SciencesUniversity of BristolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, CliftonBristolBS8 2PSUK
| | - Peter Vickerman
- Health Protection Research Unit, Population Health SciencesUniversity of BristolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, CliftonBristolBS8 2PSUK
| | - Louisa Degenhardt
- National Drug and Alcohol Research CentreUniversity of South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew Hickman
- Health Protection Research Unit, Population Health SciencesUniversity of BristolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, CliftonBristolBS8 2PSUK
| | - Clare E. French
- Health Protection Research Unit, Population Health SciencesUniversity of BristolCanynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, CliftonBristolBS8 2PSUK
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19
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Mitra S, Lee W, Hayashi K, Boyd J, Milloy M, Dong H, Wood E, Kerr T. A gender comparative analysis of post-traumatic stress disorder among a community-based cohort of people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Addict Behav 2021; 115:106793. [PMID: 33421746 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While exposure to traumatic events and subsequent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common among people who use drugs (PWUD), little is known about gender-based differences associated with PTSD in this population. We explore gender-based differences in factors associated with a probable PTSD diagnosis in a cohort of PWUD from Vancouver, Canada. METHODS Data were collected through the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS) and the AIDS Care Cohort to Evaluate Exposure to Survival Services (ACCESS), two community-recruited cohorts of PWUD. Participants were administered the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate social-structural factors and substance use patterns and behaviours associated with a probable PTSD diagnosis, stratified by self-identified gender. PTSD symptom clusters and brief descriptions of the worst traumatic event experienced were also reported. RESULTS Between December 2016 and December 2018, of 797 eligible participants, 295 (37.0%) identified as women. PTSD was more commonly reported in women compared to men (53.2% vs. 31.5%, p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis involving men, no correlates were associated with PTSD. In multivariable analysis involving women, PTSD was positively associated with exposure to violence (AOR: 3.66; 95%CI: 1.14-11.72), daily stimulant use (AOR: 2.32; 95%CI: 1.32-4.08) and heavy alcohol use (AOR: 3.84; 95%CI: 1.84-8.00), and negatively associated with being in a stable relationship (AOR: 0.46; 95%CI: 0.25-0.84). CONCLUSIONS Gender-based differences in PTSD diagnosis among a cohort of PWUD point to the need to develop gender-focused and trauma-informed health and social services to meet the immediate needs of PWUD living with PTSD.
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20
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Moallef S, DeBeck K, Milloy MJ, Somers J, Kerr T, Hayashi K. Knowledge of a Drug-Related Good Samaritan Law Among People Who Use Drugs, Vancouver, Canada. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2021; 49:629-638. [PMID: 33660550 PMCID: PMC8812464 DOI: 10.1177/1090198121999303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Across the United States and Canada drug-related Good Samaritan laws (GSLs) have been enacted to encourage observers of acute drug overdose events to contact emergency medical services (EMS) without fear of legal repercussions. However, little is known about the working knowledge of GSLs among people who use illicit drugs (PWUD). We sought to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with accurate knowledge of a GSL among PWUD in Vancouver, Canada, 1 year after the GSL was enacted. METHOD We used data from participants in three community-recruited prospective cohort studies of PWUD interviewed between June and November 2018. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with accurate knowledge of the GSL. RESULTS Among 1,258 participants, including 760 males (60%), 358 (28%) had accurate knowledge of the GSL. In multivariable analyses, participants who reported ever having a negative police encounter (defined as being stopped, searched, or detained by the police) were less likely to have accurate knowledge of the GSL (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.70; 95% CI [0.54, 0.90]), while those involved in drug dealing were more likely to have accurate knowledge of the GSL (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI [1.06, 2.06]). DISCUSSION Despite having been enacted for a full year, approximately three quarters of participants did not have accurate GSL knowledge, warranting urgent educational efforts among PWUD. Additional research is needed to understand whether GSLs can mitigate the fears of legal repercussions among those engaged in drug dealing and with past negative experiences with the police.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Moallef
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - M J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Julian Somers
- Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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21
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Richardson L, Dong H, Kerr T, Milloy MJ, Hayashi K. Drug-related harm coinciding with income assistance payments: results from a community-based cohort of people who use drugs. Addiction 2021; 116:536-545. [PMID: 32621376 PMCID: PMC7779750 DOI: 10.1111/add.15182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Income assistance is critical to the health and wellbeing of socio-economically marginalized people who use illicit drugs (PWUD). However, past literature paradoxically identifies unintended increases in drug-related harm coinciding with synchronized payments that may magnify signals for drug use. The scope of such harm has not been fully characterized among non-institutionalized populations. This study examined socio-demographic, health and drug use-related correlates of payment-coincident drug-related harm. DESIGN This observational study uses data from prospective community-based longitudinal cohorts of PWUD between December 2013 and May 2018. SETTING Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1604 PWUD receiving monthly income assistance. Our sample included 586 (36.5%) women, 861 (53.7%) non-white participants and 685 (42.7%) people living with HIV. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was a self-reported composite measure of drug-related harm in the past 6 months coinciding with income assistance, including higher-frequency substance use, non-fatal overdose and service barriers or interruptions. Subanalyses disaggregated this outcome. FINDINGS Payment-coincident drug-related harm was reported among 77.7% of participants during the study period. In multivariable models, key correlates positively and significantly associated with payment-coincident harm included: street-based income generation [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.26-1.74, P < 0.001], sex work (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.35-2.04, P < 0.001), illegal income generation (aOR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.35-1.83 P < 0.001), homelessness (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.13-1.58, P < 0.001), exposure to violence (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.03-1.66, P = 0.032), daily crack cocaine use (aOR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.59-2.50, P < 0.001), heavy alcohol use (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.37-1.97, P < 0.001) and injection drug use (aOR = 2.55, 95% CI = 2.01-3.23, P < 0.001). In subanalyses, specific harms were more likely among individuals reporting social, structural and health vulnerabilities. CONCLUSIONS In Vancouver, Canada, people who use illicit drugs who receive income assistance report high prevalence of payment-coincident drug-related harm, particularly people experiencing socioeconomic and structural marginalization or engaging in high-intensity drug use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Richardson
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canad
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22
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Hayashi K, Wood E, Dong H, Buxton JA, Fairbairn N, DeBeck K, Milloy M, Kerr T. Awareness of fentanyl exposure and the associated overdose risks among people who inject drugs in a Canadian setting. Drug Alcohol Rev 2021; 40:964-973. [DOI: 10.1111/dar.13261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Vancouver Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby Canada
| | - Evan Wood
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Vancouver Canada
- Department of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Vancouver Canada
- School of Population and Public Health University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
| | - Jane A. Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Vancouver Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Vancouver Canada
- Department of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Vancouver Canada
- School of Public Policy Simon Fraser University Vancouver Canada
| | - M.‐J. Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Vancouver Canada
- Department of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use Vancouver Canada
- Department of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver Canada
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23
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El-Akkad SED, Hayashi K, Dong H, Day A, McKendry R, Kaur G, Barrios R, Debeck K, Milloy MJ, Ti L. Migration Patterns from an Open Illicit Drug Scene and Emergency Department Visits among People Who Use Illicit Drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Subst Use Misuse 2021; 56:1837-1845. [PMID: 34378487 PMCID: PMC8855781 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1958849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who use illicit drugs (PWUD) experience various adverse health outcomes leading to increased healthcare service utilization. PWUD are also a highly mobile population which poses challenges to healthcare delivery. The objective of this study was to identify migration patterns from the Downtown Eastside (DTES), an urban illicit drug scene in Vancouver and to estimate the impact of different migration patterns on two outcomes: a) emergency department (ED) visits and b) ED visits resulting in inpatient admission among PWUD. METHODS Three prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver were linked with regional ED data. We defined the optimal number of trajectory groups that best represented distinct patterns of migration from Vancouver's DTES using a latent class growth analysis. Then, generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the effect of migration patterns on the two ED outcomes. RESULTS Four distinct migration trajectory patterns were identified among the 1210 included participants: PWUD who consistently lived in the DTES, those who migrated out of DTES early, those who migrated out of DTES late, and those who frequently revisited the DTES. Participants who frequently revisited the DTES had higher odds of an ED visit (adjusted odds ratio = 1.62; 95% confidence interval: 1.28-2.06). There was no significant association between migration patterns and inpatient admission. CONCLUSIONS We found that PWUD who frequently revisited the DTES were more likely to have utilized the ED, suggesting that there may be a subgroup of PWUD who are at increased risk of experiencing negative health outcomes.Supplemental data for this article is available online at 10.1080/10826084.2021.1958849.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saif-El-Din El-Akkad
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Andrew Day
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Gaganpreet Kaur
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rolando Barrios
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kora Debeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lianping Ti
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU), Vancouver, BC, Canada
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24
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Dong H, Hayashi K, Fairbairn N, Milloy MJ, DeBeck K, Wood E, Kerr T. Long term pre-treatment opioid use trajectories in relation to opioid agonist therapy outcomes among people who use drugs in a Canadian setting. Addict Behav 2021; 112:106655. [PMID: 32977270 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid agonist therapy (OAT) models are generally provided without consideration of how pre-treatment characteristics may be associated with outcome. Therefore, we aimed to first characterize longitudinal trajectories of opioid use before initiating OAT. Then we explored the impact of OAT on opioid use across these pre-treatment trajectories. METHODS Data were derived from three prospective cohort studies involving people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Latent class growth analysis was applied to identify opioid use trajectories based on individual-level observations three years before starting OAT. Multivariable generalized linear mixed model was used to examine whether engaging in OAT was associated with lower risk of illicit opioid use among participants with different pre-treatment opioid use trajectories. RESULTS 464 participants were included in the study between September 2005 and November 2018. Two pre-treatment opioid use trajectories were identified: high frequency users (246, 53.0%) and gradually increasing frequency users (218, 47.0%). We observed different strengths of association between OAT engagement and illicit opioid use among high frequency users (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.36, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.20 - 0.63) and gradually increasing frequency users (AOR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.53 - 1.56). Unstable housing, any stimulant use, experiencing violence, drug dealing, sex work involvement, and incarceration were independently and positively associated with ongoing illicit opioid use. CONCLUSIONS Distinct pre-treatment opioid use trajectories are likely to influence treatment outcomes. Research is required to determine if tailored strategies specific to people with different pre-treatment opioid use patterns have potential to improve outcomes of OAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9 Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9 Canada; School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6 Canada
| | - Evan Wood
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3 Canada.
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25
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Duff P, Shannon K, Braschel M, Ranville F, Kestler M, Elwood Martin R, Krüsi A, Deering K. HIV viral load trajectories of women living with HIV in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Int J STD AIDS 2020; 32:322-330. [PMID: 33292094 DOI: 10.1177/0956462420965847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study describes long-term viral load (VL) trajectories and their predictors among women living with HIV (WLWH), using data from Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS: Women's Longitudinal Needs Assessment (SHAWNA), an open prospective cohort study with linkages to the HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program. Using Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA) on a sample of 153 WLWH (1088 observations), three distinct trajectories of detectable VL (≥50 copies/ml) were identified: 'sustained low probability of detectable VL', characterized by high probability of long-term VL undetectability (51% of participants); 'high probability of delayed viral undetectability', characterized by a high probability VL detectability at baseline that decreases over time (43% of participants); and 'high probability of detectable VL', characterized by a high probability of long-term VL detectability (7% of participants). In multivariable analysis, incarceration (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.24; 95%CI:1.34-7.82), younger age (AOR = 0.96; 95%CI:0.92-1.00), and lower CD4 count (AOR = 0.82; 95%CI:0.72-0.93) were associated with 'high probability of delayed viral undetectability' compared to 'sustained low probability of detectable VL.' This study reveals the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of WLWH's long-term VL patterns, and highlights the need for early engagement in HIV care among young WLWH and programs to mitigate the destabilizing impact of incarceration on WLWH's HIV treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Putu Duff
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kate Shannon
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Melissa Braschel
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Flo Ranville
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mary Kestler
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ruth Elwood Martin
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrea Krüsi
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kathleen Deering
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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26
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Moallef S, Homayra F, Milloy MJ, Bird L, Nosyk B, Hayashi K. High prevalence of unmet healthcare need among people who use illicit drugs in a Canadian setting with publicly-funded interdisciplinary primary care clinics. Subst Abus 2020; 42:760-766. [PMID: 33270542 DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2020.1846667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who use illicit drugs (PWUD) experience significant barriers to healthcare. However, little is known about levels of attachment to primary care (defined as having a regular family doctor or clinic they feel comfortable with) and its association with unmet healthcare needs in this population. In a Canadian setting that features novel publicly-funded interdisciplinary primary care clinics, we sought to examine the prevalence and correlates (including attachment to primary care) of unmet healthcare needs among PWUD. Methods: Data were derived from two prospective cohort studies of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada between December 2017 and November 2018. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with self-reported unmet healthcare needs among participants reporting any health issues. Results: In total, 743 (83.6%) of 889 eligible participants reported attachment to primary care and 220 (24.7%) reported an unmet healthcare need. In multivariable analyses, attachment to primary care at an integrated care clinic (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.14; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.06-0.34) was negatively associated with an unmet healthcare need, while being treated poorly at a healthcare facility (AOR = 5.50; 95% CI: 3.59-8.60) and self-reported chronic pain (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.30-3.01) were positively associated with an unmet healthcare need. Conclusion: Despite the high level of attachment to primary care, a quarter of our sample reported an unmet healthcare need. Our findings suggest that multi-level interventions are required to address the unmet need, including pain management and integrated care, to support PWUD with complex health needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Moallef
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Fahmida Homayra
- Health Economic Research Unit, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lorna Bird
- Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bohdan Nosyk
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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27
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Peckham AM, Young EH. Opportunities to Offer Harm Reduction to People who Inject Drugs During Infectious Disease Encounters: Narrative Review. Open Forum Infect Dis 2020; 7:ofaa503. [PMID: 33241069 PMCID: PMC7676504 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased rates of overdose (OD) and blood-borne infections have been associated with injection drug use (IDU). This increasing overlap between IDU-related infectious diseases (ID) is a byproduct of the opioid OD crisis, especially with the transition to synthetic opioids with faster onset and shorter duration leading to potentially more frequent injections. ID specialists are uniquely positioned to positively impact the opioid OD crisis by capitalizing on opportunistic moments of engagement during clinical encounters with people who inject drugs (PWID). Harm reduction services should therefore be expanded and offered to PWID in ID settings to reduce rates of OD, infection, and hospitalization. Major target areas include (1) teaching and distribution of materials related to safer injection practice such as sterile injection supplies, fentanyl test strips, and naloxone; (2) increased screening and access to pre-exposure prophylaxis and postexposure prophylaxis; and (3) initiation of medications for opioid use disorder. Incorporating these strategies in various treatment settings can expand treatment access, improve patient outcomes, and reduce stigma associated with IDU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa M Peckham
- School of Pharmacy, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Erika H Young
- School of Pharmacy, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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28
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Eriksen J, Albert J, Axelsson M, Berglund T, Brännström J, Gaines H, Gisslén M, Gröön P, Hagstam P, Navér L, Pettersson K, Stenkvist J, Sönnerborg A, Tegnell A. Contagiousness in treated HIV-1 infection. Infect Dis (Lond) 2020; 53:1-8. [PMID: 33043748 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2020.1831696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective antiretroviral treatment of HIV-1, defined as continuously undetectable virus in blood, has substantial effects on the infectiousness and spread of HIV. AIM This paper outlines the assessment of the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) and Public Health Agency of Sweden regarding contagiousness of HIV-infected persons on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Results and Conclusion: The expert group concludes that there is no risk of transmission of HIV during vaginal or anal intercourse if the HIV-infected person fulfils the criteria for effective ART. Summary: The effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-1 infection has dramatically reduced the morbidity and mortality among people who live with HIV. ART also has a noticeable effect on the infectiousness and on the spread of the disease in society. Knowledge about this has grown gradually. For ART to be regarded effective, the level of the HIV RNA in the plasma should be repeatedly and continuously undetectable and the patient should be assessed as continually having high adherence to treatment. Based on available knowledge the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) and the Public Health Agency of Sweden make the following assessment: There is no risk of HIV transmission during vaginal or anal intercourse if the HIV positive person fulfils the criteria for effective treatment. This includes intercourse where a condom is not used. However, there are a number of other reasons for recommending the use of condoms, primarily to protect against the transmission of other STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and hepatitis, as well as unwanted pregnancy. The occurrence of other STIs does not affect the risk of HIV transmission in persons on effective ART. It is plausible that the risk for transmission of HIV infection between people who inject drugs and share injection equipment is reduced if the individual with HIV is on effective ART, but there are no studies that directly show this. The risk of transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, labour and delivery is very low if the mother's treatment is initiated well before delivery and if the treatment aim of undetectable virus levels is attained. This is dependent on healthcare services being aware of the mother's HIV infection at an early stage. In most contacts with health and medical care, including dental care, the risk of transmission is not significant if the patient is on effective treatment, but the risk may remain, although considerably reduced, in more advanced interventions such as surgery. When an incident with risk of transmission occurs, the patient must always inform those potentially exposed about his or her HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaran Eriksen
- Unit of Infectious Diseases/Venhälsan, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Albert
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Axelsson
- Department of Public Health Analysis and Data Management, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Torsten Berglund
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Public Health Analysis and Data Management, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Johanna Brännström
- Unit of Infectious Diseases/Venhälsan, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hans Gaines
- Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Magnus Gisslén
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Peter Gröön
- Regional Office of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Stockholm Region, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Hagstam
- Regional Office of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Lars Navér
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Paediatrics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Pettersson
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jenny Stenkvist
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Regional Office of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Stockholm Region, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Sönnerborg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Tegnell
- Department of Public Health Analysis and Data Management, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
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29
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Boniatti MM, Pellegrini JAS, Marques LS, John JF, Marin LG, Maito LRDM, Lisboa TC, Damiani LP, Falci DR. Early antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected patients admitted to an intensive care unit (EARTH-ICU): A randomized clinical trial. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239452. [PMID: 32956419 PMCID: PMC7505451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has reduced HIV-related morbidity and mortality at all stages of infection and reduced transmission of HIV. Currently, the immediate start of HAART is recommended for all HIV patients, regardless of the CD4 count. There are several concerns, however, about starting treatment in critically ill patients. Unpredictable absorption of medication by the gastrointestinal tract, drug toxicity, drug interactions, limited reserve to tolerate the dysfunction of other organs resulting from hypersensitivity to drugs or immune reconstitution syndrome, and the possibility that subtherapeutic levels of drug may lead to viral resistance are the main concerns. The objective of our study was to compare the early onset (up to 5 days) with late onset (after discharge from the ICU) of HAART in HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU. Methods This was a randomized, open-label clinical trial enrolling HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU of a public hospital in southern Brazil. Patients randomized to the intervention group had to start treatment with HAART within 5 days of ICU admission. For patients in the control group, treatment should begin after discharge from the ICU. The patients were followed up to determine mortality in the ICU, in the hospital and at 6 months. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. The secondary outcome was mortality at 6 months. Results The calculated sample size was 344 patients. Unfortunately, we decided to discontinue the study due to a progressively slower recruitment rate. A total of 115 patients were randomized. The majority of admissions were for AIDS-defining illnesses and low CD4. The main cause of admission was respiratory failure. Regarding the early and late study groups, there was no difference in hospital (66.7% and 63.8%, p = 0.75) or 6-month (68.4% and 79.2%, p = 0.20) mortality. After multivariate analysis, the only independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were shock and dialysis during the ICU stay. For the mortality outcome at 6 months, the independent variables were shock and dialysis during the ICU stay and tuberculosis at ICU admission. Conclusions Although the early termination of the study precludes definitive conclusions being made, early HAART administration for HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU compared to late administration did not show benefit in hospital mortality or 6-month mortality. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01455688. Registered 20 October 2011, https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01455688
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcio M. Boniatti
- Critical Care Department, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade La Salle, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - José Augusto S. Pellegrini
- Critical Care Department, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade La Salle, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Leonardo S. Marques
- Critical Care Department, Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Josiane F. John
- Critical Care Department, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade La Salle, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luiz G. Marin
- Critical Care Department, Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lina R. D. M. Maito
- Critical Care Department, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, Brazil
| | - Thiago C. Lisboa
- Critical Care Department, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Instituto de Pesquisa HCor, Universidade La Salle, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Diego R. Falci
- Infectious Disease Department, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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30
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Mitra S, Boyd J, Wood E, Grant C, Milloy MJ, DeBeck K, Kerr T, Hayashi K. Elevated prevalence of self-reported unintentional exposure to fentanyl among women who use drugs in a Canadian setting: A cross-sectional analysis. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2020; 83:102864. [PMID: 32702611 PMCID: PMC7669704 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The United States and Canada are in the midst of an overdose epidemic, fueled by illicitly manufactured fentanyl. While marked differences in vulnerability to drug-related harm between men and women who use drugs is well characterized, the extent to which gender differences manifest in the present overdose crisis remains understudied. We examined differences in self-reported unintentional exposure to fentanyl between men and women who use drugs. METHODOLOGY Data were derived from three prospective cohorts of people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Survey data were extracted on individuals who self-reported having used drugs known or believed to contain fentanyl in the past 30 days between December 2016 and November 2017. We used multivariable logistic regression (MLR) to examine the relationship between self-identified gender (woman vs. man) and self-reported unintentional exposure to fentanyl. As a sub-analysis, correlates of self-reported unintentional exposure to fentanyl were identified using MLR, stratified by gender. RESULTS Of 578 eligible participants, including 219 (37.9%) women, 200 (33.2%) perceived their exposure to fentanyl as unintentional (40.2% among women and 29.0% among men). In the MLR, being a woman was positively associated with self-reported unintentional fentanyl exposure (adjusted odds ratio = 2.11; 95% confidence interval: 1.45-3.09). Among women at least daily heroin use was negatively associated with self-reported unintentional fentanyl exposure, while perceiving a high or moderate risk of overdosing on fentanyl was positively associated with outcome. Among men older age was positively associated with self-reported unintentional fentanyl exposure, while injection drug use and at least daily heroin use was negatively associated with the outcome (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Women were more than two times as likely to self-report they were unintentionally exposed to fentanyl compared to men. These findings highlight the urgent need to further understand experiences of gender-based risk differences and develop gender-focused interventions and policies aimed at preventing drug-related harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana Mitra
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program, University of British Columbia, 270-2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada; British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada
| | - Jade Boyd
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Evan Wood
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Cameron Grant
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada; School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings Street #3271, BC, V6B 5K3 Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9 Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6 Canada.
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31
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Gustafson R, Demlow SE, Nathoo A, McKee G, MacDonald LE, Chu T, Sandhu J, Grafstein E, Hull M, Chittock D, Carere R, Krajden M, Sherlock CH, Harrison S, Buchner CS, Montaner JSG, Daly P. Routine HIV testing in acute care hospitals: Changing practice to curb a local HIV epidemic in Vancouver, BC. Prev Med 2020; 137:106132. [PMID: 32442444 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Early treatment of HIV infection increases life expectancy and reduces infectivity; however, delayed HIV diagnosis remains common. Implementation and sustainability of hospital-based routine HIV testing in Vancouver, British Columbia, was evaluated to address a local HIV epidemic by facilitating earlier diagnosis and treatment. Public health issued a recommendation in 2011 to offer HIV testing to all patients presenting to three Vancouver hospitals as part of routine care, including all patients admitted to medical/surgical units with expansion to emergency departments (ED). We evaluated acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness from 2011 to 2014 and continued monitoring through 2016 for sustainability. Between October 2011-December 2016, 114,803 HIV tests were administered at the three hospitals; an 11-fold increase following implementation of routine testing. The rate of testing was sustained and remained high through 2018. Of those tested, 151 patients were diagnosed with HIV for a testing yield of 0.13%. Review of 12,996 charts demonstrated 4935/5876 (96·9%) of admitted patients agreed to have an HIV test when offered. People diagnosed in hospital were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with acute stage (aOR 1·96, 95% CI 1·19, 3·23) infection, particularly those diagnosed in the ED. This study provides practice-based evidence of the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of implementing a recommendation for routine HIV testing among inpatient and emergency department admissions, as well as the ability to normalize and sustain this change. Routine hospital-based HIV testing can increase diagnoses of acute HIV infection and facilitate earlier initiation of antiretroviral treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Gustafson
- Vancouver Coastal Health, Communicable Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; University of British Columbia, School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - S Ellen Demlow
- Vancouver Coastal Health, Public Health Surveillance Unit, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Afshan Nathoo
- Vancouver Coastal Health, Prevention, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Geoffrey McKee
- Vancouver Coastal Health, Communicable Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Lauren E MacDonald
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Immunizations and Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tianxin Chu
- Vancouver Coastal Health, Public Health Surveillance Unit, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jat Sandhu
- University of British Columbia, School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Vancouver Coastal Health, Public Health Surveillance Unit, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eric Grafstein
- St. Paul's Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada; University of British Columbia, Department of Emergency Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mark Hull
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Dean Chittock
- University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Vancouver, Canada; Vancouver Coastal Health, Critical Care Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ronald Carere
- Providence Health Care, Medical Affairs, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mel Krajden
- University of British Columbia, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada; British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christopher H Sherlock
- University of British Columbia, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Scott Harrison
- Providence Health Care, HIV/AIDS and Addictions, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Julio S G Montaner
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Patricia Daly
- Vancouver Coastal Health, Office of the Chief Medical Health Officer, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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32
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Dong H, Hayashi K, Milloy MJ, DeBeck K, Singer J, Wong H, Wood E, Kerr T. Changes in substance use in relation to opioid agonist therapy among people who use drugs in a Canadian setting. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 212:108005. [PMID: 32370932 PMCID: PMC7462099 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although previous studies have shown that opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is linked to reductions in illicit opioid use, less is known about how OAT impacts the use of other psychoactive substances. We aimed to examine the changes in use of different substances by comparing patterns before and after initiating OAT. METHODS Data for this study was derived from three ongoing prospective cohorts involving people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada from 1996 to 2018. We assessed use patterns for heroin, illicit prescription opioid, cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, cannabis, daily alcohol use, and benzodiazepines. Segmented regression was conducted to compare the trends of substance use between pre-treatment and post-treatment periods. RESULTS The study included 1107 participants. After OAT engagement, we observed an immediate decline in the proportion as well as a decreasing trend for heroin (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77, 0.83), illicit prescription opioid (AOR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.90), and benzodiazepines (AOR: 0.73, 95 % CI: 0.67, 0.80). There was no significant difference comparing the pre-treatment and post-treatment trends for cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and cannabis. However, higher growth slope was noted during the post-treatment period for daily alcohol use (P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS We observed significant reduction in illicit opioids use following OAT initiation, but not for stimulant and cannabis. The increasing problematic use of alcohol may pose challenges to the safety and effectiveness of OAT. Development of comprehensive and tailored treatment strategies is needed for poly-substance users accessing OAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2A9, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2A9, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2A9, Canada; School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Joel Singer
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Hubert Wong
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Evan Wood
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Chayama KL, McNeil R, Shoveller J, Small W, Knight R. Implementation opportunities and challenges identified by key stakeholders in scaling up HIV Treatment as Prevention in British Columbia, Canada: a qualitative study. Implement Sci Commun 2020; 1:54. [PMID: 32885210 PMCID: PMC7427937 DOI: 10.1186/s43058-020-00044-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, was among the first jurisdictions to scale up HIV Treatment as Prevention (TasP) to the population level, including funding and policy commitments that enhanced HIV testing efforts (e.g., expansion of routine, opt-out testing), while also making antiretroviral therapy universally available to all people living with HIV. As such, BC represents a critical context within which to identify factors that influenced the scalability of TasP (e.g., acceptability, adoption, fidelity, equitable reach, sustainability), including key opportunities and challenges. Methods We draw on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 10 key stakeholders, comprised policymakers at the local and provincial levels and representatives from community-based organizations. Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to guide data collection, coding, and analysis, we identified key factors that influenced practice transformation and scale up. Results Key factors that contributed to the successful scale up of TasP included: (i) opportunities that enhanced stakeholder buy-in based on features of the intervention characteristics, including with regard to assessments about the quality and strength of evidence supporting TasP; (ii) an inner setting implementation climate that was, in part, shaped by the large and highly symbolic government investments into TasP; (iii) features of the outer setting such as external policies (e.g., harm reduction) that cultivated opportunities to implement new "systems-level" approaches to HIV intervention; (iv) the personal attributes of some "middle-level" influencers, including a team that was comprised of some highly motivated and social justice-oriented individuals (e.g., folks who were deeply committed to serving marginalized populations); and (v) the capacity to develop various implementation processes that could maintain "nimble and evidence-informed" adaptations across a highly decentralized service delivery system, while also creating opportunities to adapt features of TasP programming based on "real time" program data. Conclusion Constructs across all five domains of CFIR (intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, characteristics of individuals, and process) were identified to influence the success of TasP in BC. Our findings provide important insights into how BC can successfully implement and scale up other systems-level interventions that have demonstrated efficacy, while also offering insights for other jurisdictions that are currently or planning to scale up TasP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koharu Loulou Chayama
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada.,Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1 M9 Canada
| | - Ryan McNeil
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada.,General Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520 USA.,Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520 USA
| | - Jean Shoveller
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 1459 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2 Canada.,Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre, 5850/5980 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8 Canada
| | - Will Small
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, Room 11300, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada.,Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5 K3 Canada
| | - Rod Knight
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
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Bever A, Salters K, Tam C, Moore DM, Sereda P, Wang L, Wesseling T, Grieve S, Bingham B, Barrios R. Cohort profile: the STOP HIV/AIDS Program Evaluation (SHAPE) study in British Columbia, Canada. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e033649. [PMID: 32404387 PMCID: PMC7228510 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS (STOP HIV/AIDS) Program Evaluation (SHAPE) study is a longitudinal cohort developed to monitor the progress of an HIV testing and treatment expansion programme across the province of British Columbia (BC). The study considers how sociostructural determinants such as gender, age, sexual identity, geography, income and ethnicity influence engagement in HIV care. PARTICIPANTS Between January 2016 and September 2018, 644 BC residents who were at least 19 years old and diagnosed with HIV were enrolled in the study and completed a baseline survey. Participants will complete two additional follow-up surveys (18 months apart) about their HIV care experiences, with clinical follow-up ongoing. FINDINGS TO DATE Analyses on baseline data have found high levels of HIV care engagement and treatment success among SHAPE participants, with 95% of participants receiving antiretroviral therapy and 90% having achieved viral suppression. However, persistent disparities in HIV treatment outcomes related to age, injection drug use and housing stability have been identified and require further attention when delivering services to marginalised groups. FUTURE PLANS Our research will examine how engagement in HIV care evolves over time, continuing to identify barriers and facilitators for promoting equitable access to treatment and care among people living with HIV. A qualitative research project, currently in the formative phase, will compliment quantitative analyses by taking a strengths-based approach to exploring experiences of engagement and re-engagement in HIV treatment among individuals who have experienced delayed treatment initiation or treatment interruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bever
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kate Salters
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Clara Tam
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - D M Moore
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Paul Sereda
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lu Wang
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tim Wesseling
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sean Grieve
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brittany Bingham
- Aboriginal Health Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rolando Barrios
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Community Health Services, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Fairgrieve C, Nosova E, Milloy MJ, Fairbairn N, DeBeck K, Ahamad K, Wood E, Kerr T, Hayashi K. Temporal changes in non-fatal opioid overdose patterns among people who use drugs in a Canadian setting. Subst Abus 2020; 41:323-330. [PMID: 32348197 DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2019.1677280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Background and Aims: Little is known about how the expansion of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and emergence of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply in North America has influenced non-fatal opioid overdose (NFOD) risk. Therefore, we sought to identify patterns of substance use and addiction treatment engagement (i.e., OAT, other inpatient or outpatient treatment) prior to NFOD, as well as the trends and correlates of each pattern among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Vancouver, Canada. Methods: Data were derived from participants in three prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver in 2009-2016. Observations from participants reporting opioid-related NFOD in the previous six months were included. A latent class analysis was used to identify classes based on substances used at the time of last NFOD and addiction treatment engagement in the month prior to the last NFOD. Multivariable generalized estimating equations estimated the correlates of each class membership. Results: In total, 889 observations from 570 participants were included. Four distinct classes were identified: (1) polysubstance use (PSU) and addiction treatment engagement; (2) PSU without treatment engagement; (3) exposure to unknown substances, mostly without treatment engagement; and (4) primary heroin users without treatment engagement. The class of exposure to unknown substances appeared in 2015 and became the dominant group (76.9%) in 2016. In multivariable analyses, the odds of membership in the class of primary heroin users decreased over time (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-0.81). Conclusions: Changing profiles of PWUD reporting opioid-related NFOD were seen over time. Notably, there was a sudden increase in reports of overdose following exposure to unknown substances since 2015, the majority of whom reported no recent addiction treatment engagement. Further study into patterns of substance use and strategies to improve addiction treatment engagement is needed to improve and focus overdose prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Fairgrieve
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Family Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ekaterina Nosova
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Keith Ahamad
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Family Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Evan Wood
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Jordan AE, Perlman DC, Cleland CM, Wyka K, Schackman BR, Nash D. Community viral load and hepatitis C virus infection: Community viral load measures to aid public health treatment efforts and program evaluation. J Clin Virol 2020; 124:104285. [PMID: 32007842 PMCID: PMC7195813 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most prevalent blood-borne infection and causes more deaths than any other infectious disease in the US. Incident HCV infection in the US increased nearly 300 % between 2010 and 2015, Community viral load (CVL) measures have been developed for HIV to measure both transmission risk and treatment engagement in programs or areas. OBJECTIVE This paper presents a systematic review exploring the published literature on CVL constructs applied to HCV epidemiology and proposes novel CVL measures for HCV. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING A systematic review was conducted of electronic databases; the search sought to identify published literature on HCV which discussed or applied CVL measures to HCV epidemiology. Novel CVL measures were constructed to apply to HCV. RESULTS No reports examining quantitative measures of HCV CVL were identified. Using the HIV CVL literature and the specific characteristics of HCV epidemiology, five HCV CVL measures are proposed. Narrower measures focusing on those engaged-in-care may be useful for program evaluation and broader measures including undiagnosed people may be useful for surveillance of HCV transmission potential. CONCLUSION Despite their potential value, CVL constructs have not yet formally been developed and applied to HCV epidemiology. The CVL measures proposed here could serve as valuable HCV program and surveillance measures. There is a need for informative surveillance measures to enhance policy and public health responses to achieve HCV control. Further study of these proposed HCV CVL measures to HCV epidemiology is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashly E Jordan
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 West 125th St, Floor 6, New York, NY 10027, United States; Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York, NY, United States; Behavioral Science Training Program in Substance Abuse Research, 380 Second Avenue, Suite 306, New York, NY 10010, United States.
| | - David C Perlman
- Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York, NY, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 350 East 17th St, Floor 19, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Charles M Cleland
- Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York, NY, United States; Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, 17-51, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Katarzyna Wyka
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 West 125th St, Floor 6, New York, NY 10027, United States
| | - Bruce R Schackman
- Department of Healthcare Policy & Research, Weill Cornell Medicine, 425 East 61st Street, Suite 301, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Denis Nash
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, 55 West 125th St, Floor 6, New York, NY 10027, United States
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Sharing of Injection Drug Preparation Equipment Is Associated With HIV Infection: A Cross-sectional Study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2020; 81:e99-e103. [PMID: 31021986 PMCID: PMC6905403 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background: Sharing needles/syringes and sexual transmission are widely appreciated as means of HIV transmission among persons who inject drugs (PWIDs). London, Canada, is experiencing an outbreak of HIV among PWIDs, despite a large needle/syringe distribution program and low rates of needle/syringe sharing. Objective: To determine whether sharing of injection drug preparation equipment (IDPE) is associated with HIV infection. Methods: Between August 2016 and June 2017, individuals with a history of injection drug use and residence in London were recruited to complete a comprehensive questionnaire and HIV testing. Results: A total of 127 participants were recruited; 8 were excluded because of failure to complete HIV testing. The remaining 35 HIV-infected (cases) and 84 HIV-uninfected (controls) participants were assessed. Regression analysis found that sharing IDPE, without sharing needles/syringes, was strongly associated with HIV infection (adjusted odds ratio: 22.1, 95% confidence interval: 4.51 to 108.6, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Sharing of IDPE is a risk factor for HIV infection among PWIDs, even in the absence of needle/syringe sharing. Harm reduction interventions to reduce HIV transmission associated with this practice are urgently needed.
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Dong H, Hayashi K, Singer J, Milloy MJ, DeBeck K, Wood E, Kerr T. Trajectories of injection drug use among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada, 1996-2017: growth mixture modeling using data from prospective cohort studies. Addiction 2019; 114:2173-2186. [PMID: 31328354 PMCID: PMC7498269 DOI: 10.1111/add.14756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Injection drug use patterns are known to change over time, although such long-term changes have not been well described. We sought to characterize longitudinal trajectories of injection drug use and identify associated factors. DESIGN Data were derived from the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study and AIDS Care Cohort to evaluate the Exposure to Survival Services study, two prospective cohorts involving people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada between 1996 and 2017. Growth mixture modeling was applied to identify distinct injection drug use trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify baseline factors associated with each trajectory. SETTING Canada. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2057 participants who reported having used illicit drugs via injection in the past 6 months at the baseline visit were included in the study. The median time since first injection drug use at baseline was 14.8 years (quartile 1-quartile 3: 6.5-24.3). MEASUREMENTS Information regarding self-reported injection drug use during the past 6 months was collected at baseline and semi-annually thereafter via interviewer-administered questionnaires. FINDINGS Participants were followed for a median of 113.4 months (quartile 1-quartile 3: 63.4-161.7). Five trajectories were identified: persistent high frequency injection (507, 24.6%); high frequency injection with late decrease (374, 18.2%); gradual cessation (662, 32.2%); early cessation with late relapse (227, 11.0%); and early cessation (287, 14.0%). Factors found to be associated with distinct trajectories included: daily heroin injection, binge injection drug use, age, not being in a stable relationship and year of study enrollment. CONCLUSIONS People who used drugs in Vancouver, Canada from 1996 to 2017 appeared to follow five drug use trajectories, ranging from persistent high frequency use to early cessation. Almost 25% of participants remained high-frequency injectors over the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joel Singer
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,Providence Healthcare Research Institute, Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Evan Wood
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- British Columbia Centre on Substance use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Ti L, Dong H, Day A, McKendry R, DeBeck K, Bingham B, Milloy MJ, Barrios R, Hayashi K. Longitudinal migration patterns from an open illicit drug scene among people who use illicit drugs in Vancouver, Canada. J Subst Abuse Treat 2019; 107:17-23. [PMID: 31757260 PMCID: PMC6892597 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify migration patterns from an open illicit drug scene (the Downtown Eastside [DTES] neighborhood) and describe factors associated with these migration patterns. Data were derived from three cohorts of people who use illicit drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Defined using latent class growth analysis, we identified four distinct migration trajectory groups: 1) consistently living in the DTES (47.8%); 2) early migration out, with a median time of migrating out of DTES of 5.3 months (21.5%); 3) late migration out, with a median time of migrating out of DTES of 38.0 months (20.1%); and 4) frequent revisit back-and-forth to DTES (10.6%). In a multivariable model, compared to the "consistently living in the DTES" group, factors associated with the "frequent revisit" group included being enrolled in non-pharmacological addiction treatment and having an HCV-positive serostatus. Factors associated with the "early migration out" group included being enrolled in detoxification or in other non-pharmacological addiction treatment, later calendar year, being on income assistance, living in a single room occupancy hotel, and having an HCV-positive serostatus. These findings point to the need for appropriate distribution of services in order to meet the needs of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianping Ti
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - Andrew Day
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, 520 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1A1, Canada
| | - Rachael McKendry
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, 520 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1A1, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3, Canada
| | - Brittany Bingham
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, 520 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1A1, Canada
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Rolando Barrios
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, 520 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1A1, Canada; British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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Moving into an urban drug scene among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada: Latent class growth analysis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224993. [PMID: 31725737 PMCID: PMC6855692 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Urban drug scenes are characterized by high prevalence of illicit drug dealing and use, violence and poverty, much of which is driven by the criminalization of people who use illicit drugs (PWUD) and the associated stigma. Despite significant public health needs, little is understood about patterns of moving into urban drug scenes among PWUD. Therefore, we sought to identify trajectories of residential mobility (hereafter ‘mobility’) among PWUD into the Downtown Eastside (DTES), an urban neighbourhood with an open drug scene in Vancouver, Canada, as well as characterize distinct trajectory groups among PWUD. Methods Data were derived from three prospective cohort studies of community-recruited PWUD in Vancouver between 2005 and 2016. We used latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to identify distinct patterns of moving into the DTES among participants residing outside of DTES at baseline. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression was used to determine baseline factors associated with each trajectory group. Results In total, 906 eligible participants (30.9% females) provided 9,317 observations. The LCGA assigned four trajectories: consistently living outside of DTES (52.8%); early move into DTES (11.9%); gradual move into DTES (19.5%); and move in then out (15.8%). Younger PWUD, those of Indigenous ancestry, those who were homeless or living in a single-room occupancy hotel (SRO), and those injecting drugs daily were more likely to move in then out of DTES (all p<0.05). Living in an SRO, daily injection drug use, and recent incarceration were also positively associated with early mobility (all p<0.05). Conclusions Nearly half of the participants moved into the DTES. Younger PWUD and Indigenous peoples appeared to have particularly high mobility, as did those with markers of social-structural vulnerability and high intensity drug use. These findings indicate a need to tailor existing social and health services within the DTES and expand affordable housing options outside the DTES.
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Vandormael A, Bärnighausen T, Herbeck J, Tomita A, Phillips A, Pillay D, de Oliveira T, Tanser F. Longitudinal Trends in the Prevalence of Detectable HIV Viremia: Population-Based Evidence From Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Clin Infect Dis 2019; 66:1254-1260. [PMID: 29186391 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The prevalence of detectable viremia has previously been used to infer the potential for ongoing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. To date, no study has evaluated the longitudinal change in the prevalence of detectable viremia within the HIV-positive community (PDV+) and the entire population (PDVP) using data from a sub-Saharan African setting. Methods In 2011, 2013, and 2014, we obtained 6752 HIV-positive and 15415 HIV-negative test results from a population-based surveillance system in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. We quantified the PDV+ as the proportion of the 6752 HIV-positive results with a viral load >1550 copies/mL and the PDVP as the proportion of the 6752 HIV-positive and 15415 HIV-negative results with a viral load >1550 copies/mL. Results Between 2011 and 2014, the PDV+ decreased by 16.5 percentage points (pp) for women (from 71.8% to 55.3%) and 10.6 pp for men (from 77.8% to 67.2%). However, a steady rise in the overall HIV prevalence, from 26.7% to 32.4%, offset the declines in the PDV+ for both sexes. For women, the PDVP decreased by only 2.1 pp, from 21.3% to 19.2%, but for men, the PDVP actually increased by 1.6 pp, from 14.6% to 16.2%, over the survey period. Conclusions The PDV+, which is currently being tracked under the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, may not be an accurate indicator of the potential for ongoing HIV transmission. There is a critical need for countries to monitor and report the prevalence of detectable viremia among all adults, irrespective of HIV status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Vandormael
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.,Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.,Kwazulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.,Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.,Heidelberg Institute for Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany.,Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua Herbeck
- International Clinical Research Center, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Andrew Tomita
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.,Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.,Kwazulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Deenan Pillay
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.,Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Tulio de Oliveira
- Kwazulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.,Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Frank Tanser
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.,Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.,Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, United Kingdom.,Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Ma Y, Dou Z, Guo W, Mao Y, Zhang F, McGoogan JM, Zhao Y, Zhao D, Wu Y, Liu Z, Wu Z. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Care Continuum in China: 1985-2015. Clin Infect Dis 2019; 66:833-839. [PMID: 29216405 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care continuum attrition is a major global public health challenge. Few studies have examined this problem in resource-limited settings. We aimed to assess cumulative, current, and historical achievement along China's HIV continuum of care. Methods A nationwide, serial cross-sectional study of all individuals with HIV infection diagnosed in China between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 2015 was conducted using data from China's HIV/AIDS information systems. Biennial estimates of the number of persons living with HIV were also used. We defined 7 steps in HIV care continuum as infected (estimated), diagnosed, linked, retained, enrolled, receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and virally suppressed. Cumulative, 30-year performance, and biennial performance during the most recent 10 years were examined. Results A total of 573529 persons diagnosed with HIV infection were included. Cumulatively, 94% were linked, 88% were retained, 73% were enrolled, 67% were receiving ART, and 44% were suppressed. Greatest attrition was observed for adolescents, minorities, and those who reported injecting drug use as their route of infection. Improvement was observed from 2005 to 2015. As of the end of 2015, 68% among those infected were diagnosed, 67% among diagnosed were receiving ART, and 65% among those receiving ART were virally suppressed. After adjusting for those without viral load testing, the proportion suppressed increased to 89%. Conclusions Despite dramatic improvements, China faces serious challenges in achieving the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 targets, because of substantial attrition along its continuum of HIV care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Ma
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Zhihui Dou
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Wei Guo
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Yurong Mao
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Fujie Zhang
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China.,Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
| | - Jennifer M McGoogan
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Decai Zhao
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Yasong Wu
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Zhongfu Liu
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Zunyou Wu
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China.,Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California
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McLaughlin A, Sereda P, Oliveira N, Barrios R, Brumme CJ, Brumme ZL, Montaner JSG, Joy JB. Detection of HIV transmission hotspots in British Columbia, Canada: A novel framework for the prioritization and allocation of treatment and prevention resources. EBioMedicine 2019; 48:405-413. [PMID: 31628022 PMCID: PMC6838403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Identifying populations at high risk of HIV transmission is critical for prioritizing treatment and prevention resources and achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets. Methods HIV transmission rates can be estimated from phylogenetic trees as viral lineage-level diversification rates. To identify HIV-1 transmission foci in British Columbia, Canada, we inferred diversification rates from phylogenetic trees of 36 271 HIV-1 sequences from 9630 anonymized individuals. Diversification rates were combined with sociodemographic and clinical data, then aggregated by patients’ area of residence to predict the distribution of new HIV cases between 2008 and 2018. The predictive power of the model was compared with a phylogenetically uninformed model. Findings Aggregated diversification rate measures were predictive of new HIV cases in the subsequent year after adjusting for prevalent and incident cases in the previous year. For every one-unit increase in the mean of the top five diversification rates, the number of new HIV cases increased by on average 1·38-fold (95% CI, 1·28–1·49). In a blind prediction of 2018 cases, diversification rate improved the model's specificity by 12%, accuracy by 9%, top 20 agreement by 100%, and correlation of predicted and observed values by 162% relative to a model that incorporated epidemiological data alone. Interpretation By predicting the distribution of future HIV cases, a combined phylogenetic and epidemiological approach identifies hotspots where public health resources are needed most. Funding Canadian Institutes of Health Research, University of British Columbia, Public Health Agency of Canada, Genome Canada, Genome BC, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela McLaughlin
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Paul Sereda
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Natalia Oliveira
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Rolando Barrios
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Chanson J Brumme
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Zabrina L Brumme
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Julio S G Montaner
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jeffrey B Joy
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, University of British Columbia Department of Medicine, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Kostaki EG, Frampton D, Paraskevis D, Pantavou K, Ferns B, Raffle J, Grant P, Kozlakidis Z, Hadjikou A, Pavlitina E, Williams LD, Hatzakis A, Friedman SR, Nastouli E, Nikolopoulos GK. Near Full-length Genomic Sequencing and Molecular Analysis of HIV-Infected Individuals in a Network-based Intervention (TRIP) in Athens, Greece: Evidence that Transmissions Occur More Frequently from those with High HIV-RNA. Curr HIV Res 2019; 16:345-353. [PMID: 30706819 PMCID: PMC6446520 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x17666190130120757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: TRIP (Transmission Reduction Intervention Project) was a network-based, contact tracing approach to locate and link to care, mostly people who inject drugs (PWID) with recent HIV infection. Objective: We investigated whether sequences from HIV-infected participants with high viral load cluster together more frequently than what is expected by chance. Methods: Paired end reads were generated for 104 samples using Illumina MiSeq next-generation se-quencing. Results: 63 sequences belonged to previously identified local transmission networks of PWID (LTNs) of an HIV outbreak in Athens, Greece. For two HIV-RNA cut-offs (105 and 106 IU/mL), HIV transmissions were more likely between PWID with similar levels of HIV-RNA (p<0.001). 10 of the 14 sequences (71.4%) from PWID with HIV-RNA >106 IU/mL were clustered in 5 pairs. For 4 of these clusters (80%), there was in each one of them at least one sequence from a recently HIV-infected PWID. Conclusion: We showed that transmissions are more likely among PWID with high viremia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelia-Georgia Kostaki
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Daniel Frampton
- Department of Infection and Immunity, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dimitrios Paraskevis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Bridget Ferns
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UCLH/UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jade Raffle
- Department of Infection and Immunity, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Grant
- Department of Clinical Virology, UCLH, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zisis Kozlakidis
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UCL and Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andria Hadjikou
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.,European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Eirini Pavlitina
- Transmission Reduction Intervention Project, Athens site, Athens, Greece
| | - Leslie D Williams
- National Development and Research Institutes, New York, United States
| | - Angelos Hatzakis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Samuel R Friedman
- National Development and Research Institutes, New York, United States
| | - Eleni Nastouli
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UCLH/UCL, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Population, Policy and Practice, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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Moallef S, Nosova E, Milloy MJ, DeBeck K, Fairbairn N, Wood E, Kerr T, Hayashi K. Knowledge of Fentanyl and Perceived Risk of Overdose Among Persons Who Use Drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Public Health Rep 2019; 134:423-431. [PMID: 31211644 DOI: 10.1177/0033354919857084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In North America, the illicit drug supply is increasingly contaminated by illicitly manufactured fentanyl. We sought to assess the level and source of fentanyl risk knowledge, defined as knowledge of the overdose risks associated with fentanyl, and characterize the prevalence and correlates of perceived risk of personally having a fentanyl overdose among persons who use illicit drugs (PWUD) in Vancouver, British Columbia. METHODS We derived data from 3 prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver from December 2016 through May 2017. We used multivariable ordinal regression analysis to identify factors associated with a lower perceived risk of having a fentanyl overdose. RESULTS Of 1166 participants, 1095 (93.9%) had fentanyl risk knowledge. Of 1137 participants who answered questions about their perceived risk of having a fentanyl overdose, 398 (35.0%) perceived having no risk, 426 (37.5%) perceived having low risk, and 313 (27.5%) perceived having moderate or high risk. Never or rarely using opioids (n = 541, 65.7%) was the most common reason for reporting no or low perceived risk (n = 824), whereas 137 (16.6%) participants reported daily heroin use. In multivariable analysis, compared with participants who perceived a moderate or high risk, participants who perceived a lower risk were less likely to report a recent nonfatal overdose (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.28; P < .001), recent injection drug use (aOR = 0.34; P < .001), and awareness of recent exposure to fentanyl (aOR = 0.34; P < .001). CONCLUSION Despite a high level of fentanyl risk knowledge, most study participants did not translate this knowledge into a risk of having an overdose. Although participants who perceived a lower risk were less likely to have had an overdose, a considerable proportion was engaged in daily opioid use, suggesting the need to improve overdose prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Moallef
- 1 British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,2 Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ekaterina Nosova
- 1 British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,3 Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - M J Milloy
- 1 British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,3 Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- 1 British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,4 School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- 1 British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,3 Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Evan Wood
- 1 British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,3 Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- 1 British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,3 Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- 1 British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,2 Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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McCrimmon T, Gilbert L, Hunt T, Terlikbayeva A, Wu E, Darisheva M, Primbetova S, Kuskulov A, Davis A, Dasgupta A, Schackman BR, Metsch LR, Feaster DJ, Baiserkin B, El-Bassel N. Improving HIV service delivery for people who inject drugs in Kazakhstan: study protocol for the Bridge stepped-wedge trial. Implement Sci 2019; 14:62. [PMID: 31200757 PMCID: PMC6570938 DOI: 10.1186/s13012-019-0909-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who inject drugs (PWID) in Kazakhstan face many barriers to HIV testing as well as to accessing HIV care, to retention in HIV care, and to initiating and adhering to anti-retroviral treatment (ART). Needle and syringe programs (NSPs) are an opportune setting for integrated interventions to link PWID to HIV care. METHODS This Hybrid Type II study employs a stepped-wedge design to evaluate both effectiveness and implementation outcomes of Bridge, an intervention to identify, test, and link HIV-positive PWID to HIV care. The study is conducted at 24 NSPs in three different regions of Kazakhstan, to assess outcomes on the individual, organizational, and policy levels. DISCUSSION This trial responds to an identified need for new models of HIV service delivery for PWID through harm reduction settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02796027 on June 10, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara McCrimmon
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Louisa Gilbert
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Timothy Hunt
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | | | - Elwin Wu
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | | | | | - Azamat Kuskulov
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Alissa Davis
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Anindita Dasgupta
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | | | - Lisa R Metsch
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Baurzhan Baiserkin
- The Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Nabila El-Bassel
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
- Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA.
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Edet A, Akinsola H, Bessong PO. Virologic and immunologic responses of patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy in a rural community health centre in Limpopo, South Africa: A retrospective study. South Afr J HIV Med 2019; 20:818. [PMID: 31205773 PMCID: PMC6556931 DOI: 10.4102/hivmed.v20i1.818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background South Africa has a high HIV burden. Despite increased uptake of persons living with HIV into the South African national antiretroviral therapy programme, the incidence of HIV increased between 2013 and 2016. Studies suggest that increased community viral suppression results in reduced HIV incidence in that community ‘independent of unsafe sexual behaviours and sharing used syringes’. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the viral and immunologic responses of patients, in a rural community health centre in South Africa, to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) between January 2004 and July 2016. Methods This was a retrospective medical record review conducted in Thohoyandou Community Health Centre. Data analysis was done using SPSS 24.0 and Microsoft Excel. The estimates used were 95% confidence intervals, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results Analysis was done using 1247 individuals, with 76% of the cohort being female and 98% first-line cART. The proportion of patients with a suppressed viral load (VL) at 6 months post-treatment was 64%, and 72% at 60 months. Fifty-nine per cent had consistent viral suppression over a 6-month period and 14% over at least 54 months. The mean CD4+ cell count at baseline was 227 cells/µL, and 538 cells/µL at 60 months. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that males had poorer immunologic and virologic responses. Conclusions Viral suppression in the study population was inferior to the UNAIDS target of 90%. The sustainability of viral suppression, once attained, was also low. These may have a negative impact on HIV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniekan Edet
- Department of Public Health, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.,Department of Family Medicine, Tshilidzini Hospital, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Henry Akinsola
- Department of Public Health, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Pascal O Bessong
- HIV/AIDS and Global Health Research Programnme, Department of Microbiology, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
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Navigating social norms of injection initiation assistance during an overdose crisis: A qualitative study of the perspectives of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Vancouver, Canada. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2019; 69:24-33. [PMID: 31029914 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite the proliferation of fentanyl and fentanyl-adulterated opioids in North America, the impacts of this drug market change on injection initiation processes have not been examined. With the aim of informing structural interventions to address injection initiation and related harms, we explore how people who inject drugs (PWID) in Vancouver, Canada understand and navigate social norms of initiating others into injecting within the context of an overdose crisis. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 PWID who reported helping someone inject for the first time. Participants were recruited from two cohort studies of PWID. Participants articulated moral dilemmas about assisting others with injecting. While participants described a 'moral code' prohibiting assisting injection-naïve individuals, this code was not the sole consideration shaping social action around injection initiation. Rather, PWID exercised agency about whether and how to assist novice injectors within the context of constraining and enabling social norms around practicing interpersonal responsibility. Changes to the drug market heightened feelings of moral culpability and criminal liability among PWID who assisted others into injection, given that injecting heightened initiates' risk of overdose. These concerns operated in tension with the aim of protecting novice injectors from harms associated with an increasingly potent and unpredictable drug supply by providing them with injection assistance, education and supervision. Our analysis of how PWID practice interpersonal responsibility helps conceptualise how 'moral codes' prohibiting initiation assistance are managed and negotiated amidst structural vulnerability. Structural interventions reducing the vulnerability of novice injectors should be prioritized, including the implementation of supervised injection sites allowing for assisted injection, Good Samaritan laws, and policy changes conducive to a safer drug supply.
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Reduction of Injection-Related Risk Behaviors After Emergency Implementation of a Syringe Services Program During an HIV Outbreak. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019; 77:373-382. [PMID: 29271829 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe injection-related HIV risk behaviors preimplementation and postimplementation of an emergency syringe services program (SSP) in Scott County, Indiana, after an HIV outbreak among persons who inject drugs (PWID). DESIGN Mixed methods retrospective pre-post intervention analysis. METHODS We analyzed routine SSP program data collected at first and most recent visit among clients with ≥2 visits, ≥7 days apart from April 4 to August 30, 2015, to quantify changes in injection-related risk behaviors. We also analyzed qualitative data collected from 56 PWID recruited in Scott County to understand factors contributing to these behaviors. RESULTS SSP clients included in our analysis (n = 148, 62% of all SSP clients) reported significant (P < 0.001) reductions over a median 10 weeks (range 1-23) in syringe sharing to inject (18%-2%) and divide drugs (19%-4%), sharing other injection equipment (eg, cookers) (24%-5%), and number of uses of the same syringe [2 (interquartile range: 1-4) to 1 (interquartile range: 1-1)]. Qualitative study participants described access to sterile syringes and safer injection education through the SSP, as explanatory factors for these reductions. Injection frequency findings were mixed, but overall suggested no change. The number of syringes returned by SSP clients increased from 0 at first visit to median 57. All qualitative study participants reported using sharps containers provided by the SSP. CONCLUSIONS Analyses of an SSP program and in-depth qualitative interview data showed rapid reduction of injection-related HIV risk behaviors among PWID post-SSP implementation. Sterile syringe access as part of comprehensive HIV prevention is an important tool to control and prevent HIV outbreaks.
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Losses to follow-up of HIV-infected people in the Spanish VACH cohort over the period between 2013 and 2014: The importance of sociodemographic factors. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2018; 37:361-366. [PMID: 30514587 DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the proportion of people infected by HIV or AIDS under follow-up in the VACH Cohort in 2012 who were lost to follow-up from 2013 to 2014, and to establish the sociodemographic features relating to this loss. METHODS We considered subjects with less than one recorded consultation per year studied to be lost to follow-up. We built logistic regression models to calculate the odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), of the variables relating to loss to follow-up. RESULTS The overall percentage of losses to follow-up was 15.5% (95% CI 14.9-16-1). The variables associated with loss to follow up were: not receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) (OR: 1.948, 95% CI: 1.651 -2.298), being an immigrant (OR: 1.746; 95%CI: 1.494-2.040), intravenous drug consumption being the mechanism for HIV transmission (OR: 1.498, 95% CI: 1.312-1.711), being unemployed (OR: 1.331; 95% CI: 1.179-1.503), being without a partner (OR: 1.948, 95% CI: 1.651-1.298), belonging to a low socioeconomic class (OR: 1.279; 95% CI: 1.143-1.431), and being attended in a hospital with fewer than 1000 patients under follow-up (OR: 1.257, 95% CI: 1.121-1.457), as well as being under age and having spent less time under follow-up in the Cohort. CONCLUSIONS 15.5% of the patients were lost to follow-up over a period of 2years in the VACH Cohort. This was associated with a series of sociodemographic and epidemiological variables that it might be useful to identify to design initiatives targeting the populations most likely to abandon the circuits of care, and guide strategies towards achieving Objective 90-90-90.
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