Sex work involvement among women with long-term opioid injection drug dependence who enter opioid agonist treatment

Gender differences in physical morbidity in opioid agonist treatment patients: population-based cohort studies from the Czech Republic and Norway

BACKGROUND

Physical diseases represent a significant burden for opioid agonist treatment (OAT) patients. This study described physical morbidity in two national cohorts of OAT patients focusing on gender differences.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study linking multiple health registers investigated physical diseases (ICD-10) in patients receiving OAT in the Czech Republic (N = 4,280) and Norway (N = 11,389) during 2010-2019. Gender-stratified analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Overall, we found a large burden of physical morbidity across gender groups in OAT patients. In the Czech Republic and Norway, women in OAT had a significantly higher prevalence of physical diseases across most diagnostic chapters, notably genitourinary diseases and neoplasms. Injuries/external causes and infectious/parasitic diseases were among the most common diseases in both women and men. Viral hepatitis accounted for over half of infectious morbidity in women and men in both cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the need for early screening, detection, and treatment of diseases and conditions across organ systems and the integration of health promotion activities to reduce physical morbidity in OAT patients. The gender differences underline the need for a tailored approach to address specific medical conditions.

Implementing buprenorphine prolonged-release injection using a health at the margins approach for transactional sex-workers

Background

Access to prescribed interventions and retention in treatment services are associated with improved health outcomes and reduced premature mortality rates for people living with opioid use disorder (OUD). In Leeds, transactional sex-workers frequently cycled in and out of treatment for OUD such that they never reached a level of engagement that permitted opportunities to meet their healthcare or housing needs. Barriers to accessing care provision include an itinerant lifestyle, difficulties with travel at unpredictable hours, impacting upon adherence to medication regimens including daily supervised consumption.

Objectives

To use a co-produced, "health at the margins" approach, to reach the sex-working population in Leeds, and support informed choices about the potential to receive buprenorphine prolonged-release injection (BPRI) as a treatment option for OUD.

Methods

BPRI was introduced using a theory of change model and improvements in sex-worker care delivery was reviewed. Strategies included buprenorphine micro-induction, shared decision-making, collaborative multi-agency working and supporting a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach.

Results

Benefits of BPRI included removal of the need for daily pharmacy visits, reducing the risk of diversion, improved medication adherence, stability and engagement with treatment and supportive services.

Conclusion

BPRI may offer an additional option for pharmacological interventions for people with OUD where there may be increased barriers to accessing treatment for example due to sex-working. Strategies for effective BPRI include micro-induction, shared decision-making, collaborative multi-agency working and supporting a strengths-based approach.

Miscarriage and Abortion Among Women Attending Harm Reduction Services in Philadelphia: Correlations With Individual, Interpersonal, and Structural Factors

Background: Reproductive health research among women who use drugs has focused on pregnancy prevention and perinatal/neonatal outcomes, but there have been few investigations of miscarriage and abortion, including prevalence and associated factors. Methods: Using cross-sectional data from a sample of non-pregnant women receiving harm reduction services in Philadelphia in 2016-2017 we examined lifetime miscarriage and abortion (n = 187). Separately for both outcomes, we used modified Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations with each correlate. We also explored correlates of reporting both miscarriage and abortion. Results: Approximately 47% experienced miscarriage, 42% experienced abortion, and 18% experienced both. Miscarriage correlates included: prescription opioid misuse (e.g., OxyContin PR 1.82, 95% CI 1.23, 2.69); 40% increase in prevalence associated with housing instability, 50% increase with survival sex, and two-fold increase with arrest. Abortion correlates included: mental health (e.g., depression PR 2.09, 95% CI 1.18, 3.71), stimulant use (e.g., methamphetamine PR 1.83, 95% CI 1.22, 2.74), and drug injection (PR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03, 3.02); partner controlling access to people/possessions, physical and emotional violence; and a two-fold increase associated with survival sex and arrest. Experiencing both reproductive outcomes was correlated with mental health, opioid and simulant use, housing instability, survival sex, and arrest. Conclusion: Miscarriage and abortion was common among women with history of drug misuse suggesting a need for expanded access to family planning, medication-assisted therapy, and social support services, and for the integration of these with substance use services. Future research in longitudinal data is needed.

Income generation and the patterning of substance use: A gender-based analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous research has demonstrated how income-generating activities among marginalized people who use drugs (PWUD)-including employment, income assistance, street-based activities, sex work, and illegal activities-can provide both benefit (e.g., additional income) and harm (e.g., violence, criminalization). However, little is known about gender differences in factors such as drug use patterns that are associated with income-generating activities among PWUD.

METHODS

Using data from prospective cohorts of HIV-positive and HIV-negative PWUD in Vancouver, Canada, we conducted exploratory gender-stratified analyses of associations between substance use patterns and income-generating activities, using generalized linear mixed-models.

RESULTS

Participants reported income sources as employment (23.4 %), income assistance (88.1 %), street-based activities (24.9 %), sex work (15.2 %), drug dealing (31.5 %), or other illegal activities (13.9 %). GLMM results showed gendered patterns of engagement in specific income-generating activities and some diverging patterns of substance use. For instance, men receiving income assistance were less likely to use opioids (Adjusted odds ratio(AOR) = 0.64; 95 % confidence interval(CI) = 0.50-0.82) and women engaged in sex work were more likely to use crack-cocaine (AOR = 2.74, 95 % CI = 2.22-3.37). However, results reflected primarily converging patterns of substance use between women and men across income-generating activities, particularly for drug dealing and other illegal activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that substance use patterns may be more closely associated with income generation context than gender. Given potential harms associated with some income generation activities, results highlight the need for further investigation of the social and structural context of income generation, its intersections with gender and substance use, and the expansion of low-threshold work opportunities.

The Opioid-overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA): Evidence-based practices in the HEALing Communities Study

BACKGROUND

The number of opioid-involved overdose deaths in the United States remains a national crisis. The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) will test whether Communities That HEAL (CTH), a community-engaged intervention, can decrease opioid-involved deaths in intervention communities (n = 33), relative to wait-list communities (n = 34), from four states. The CTH intervention seeks to facilitate widespread implementation of three evidence-based practices (EBPs) with the potential to reduce opioid-involved overdose fatalities: overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND), effective delivery of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and safer opioid analgesic prescribing. A key challenge was delineating an EBP implementation approach useful for all HCS communities.

METHODS

A workgroup composed of EBP experts from HCS research sites used literature reviews and expert consensus to: 1) compile strategies and associated resources for implementing EBPs primarily targeting individuals 18 and older; and 2) determine allowable community flexibility in EBP implementation. The workgroup developed the Opioid-overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA) to organize EBP strategies and resources to facilitate EBP implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

The ORCCA includes required and recommended EBP strategies, priority populations, and community settings. Each EBP has a "menu" of strategies from which communities can select and implement with a minimum of five strategies required: one for OEND, three for MOUD, and one for prescription opioid safety. Identification and engagement of high-risk populations in OEND and MOUD is an ORCCArequirement. To ensure CTH has community-wide impact, implementation of at least one EBP strategy is required in healthcare, behavioral health, and criminal justice settings, with communities identifying particular organizations to engage in HCS-facilitated EBP implementation.

Survival Sex Trading in Los Angeles County, California, USA

Most studies on survival sex, defined as sex trading for money, drugs, or other needs, have limited their focus to adolescents. The current study reports about the relationships between survival sex trading (SST) and high-risk behaviors in a sample of adults. Bivariate analysis shows that HIV-positive status, use of cocaine, ketamine, methamphetamine, heroin, having received drug treatment, and having received medical services are associated with SST. SST are more likely to not use condoms with partners other than their main partner, to have partners who inject drugs and are more likely to use drugs with sex. A logistic regression model included unwanted sexual touching, partner abuse, identifying as bisexual, African American, higher age, gender (women more likely), homelessness, a higher number of sexual partners, having anal sex, injection drug use, HIV seropositivity, crack use, and the likelihood of injecting drugs. The model was retested on independently collected Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA) data and showed significant relationships between survival sex and crack use, gender (women more likely), HIV positivity, identifying as bisexual, having anal sex, African American, and a higher number of sex partners. These findings make it imperative to integrate victimization counseling and HIV education into substance abuse treatment programs.

Police-related barriers to harm reduction linked to non-fatal overdose amongst sex workers who use drugs: Results of a community-based cohort in Metro Vancouver, Canada

BACKGROUND

High rates of overdose and overdose-related mortality in North America represent a pressing health and social concern. Women sex workers face severe health and social inequities, which have been linked to structural factors including negative police interactions; however, little is known regarding the burden of overdose or how policing impacts overdose risk amongst sex workers who use drugs. Given this, we aimed to explore the independent effects of experiencing police-related barriers to harm reduction on non-fatal overdose amongst women sex workers who use drugs in Metro Vancouver, Canada over a 7.5-year period.

METHODS

Data were drawn from An Evaluation of Sex Workers Health Access (AESHA), a community-based open prospective cohort of women sex workers in Metro Vancouver, from 2010 to 2017. Using multivariate logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE), we used a confounder modeling approach to identify the independent effect of experiencing police-related barriers to harm reduction strategies on non-fatal overdose amongst sex workers using drugs within the last six months at each study visit.

RESULTS

Amongst 624 participants, 7.7% overdosed within the last six months at baseline and 27.6% overdosed during the study period, contributing 287 non-fatal overdose events over the 7.5-year period. 68.6% reported police-related barriers to harm reduction strategies during the study. In a multivariate confounder model, exposure to police-related barriers to harm reduction strategies [AOR: 2.15, CI: 1.60-2.90] was independently associated with higher odds of non-fatal overdose after adjustment for key confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that in the context of the current overdose crisis, adversarial policing practices may undermine access to lifesaving overdose prevention services and exacerbate overdose risks for marginalized women. Findings underscore the urgent need to scale-up access and remove barriers to progressive harm reduction strategies for women sex workers.

Challenges on the road to recovery: Exploring attitudes and experiences of clients in a community-based buprenorphine program in Baltimore City

OBJECTIVE

This qualitative study identifies and describes experiences and challenges to retention of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) who participated in a low-threshold combined buprenorphine-peer support treatment program in Baltimore.

METHODS

In-depth semi-structured interviews with staff and former clients of the Project Connections Buprenorphine Program (PCBP) (9 people) and focus group discussions with current and previous clients of PCBP (7 people) were conducted. Content analysis was used to extract themes regarding barriers to enrolling and remaining in, and transitioning from the program.

RESULTS

Primary challenges identified by the participants included struggles with cravings and symptoms of withdrawal, comorbid mental health issues, criminal justice system involvement, medication stigma, and conflicts over level of flexibility regarding program requirements and the role of employment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified several obstacles clients face when seeking care through a combined buprenorphine-peer support model. Findings highlight potential programmatic factors that can be improved and additional resources that may support treatment retention rates and better outcomes. Despite challenges, low-threshold and community-based programs can increase access to effective maintenance treatment for OUD, especially among vulnerable populations who may not have access to formal health services.

Men's and women's response to treatment and perceptions of outcomes in a randomized controlled trial of injectable opioid assisted treatment for severe opioid use disorder

Background

To test whether there are gender differences in treatment outcomes among patients receiving injectable opioids for the treatment of long-term opioid-dependence. The study additionally explores whether men and women have different perceptions of treatment effectiveness.

Methods

This study is a secondary analysis from SALOME, a double-blind, phase III, randomized controlled trial testing the non-inferiorirty of injectable hydromorphone to injectable diacetylmorphine among 202 long-term street opioid injectors in Vancouver (Canada). Given this was a secondary analysis, no a priori power calaculation was conducted. Differences in baseline characteristics and six-month treatment outcomes (illicit heroin use, opioid use, crack cocaine use, non-legal activities, physical and psychological health scores, urine positive for street heroin markers, and retention) were analysed by gender using fitted models. Responses to an open ended question on reasons for treatment effectiveness were explored with a thematic analysis.

Results

Men and women differed significantly on a number of characteristics at baseline. For example, women were significantly younger, presented to treatment with significantly higher rates of prior month sex work (31.5% vs. 0%), and used significantly more crack cocaine (14.71 vs. 8.38 days). After six-months of treatment there were no significant differences in treatment outcomes by gender, after adjusting for baseline values. For both men and women, improved health and quality of life were the most common reasons provided for treatment effectiveness, however women were more specific in the types of health improvements.

Conclusions

Despite presenting to treatment with vulnerabilities not faced to the same extent by men, at six-months women did not differ significantly from men in tested trial efficacy outcomes. While the primary outcome in the trial was the reduction of illicit opioid use, in the open-ended responses both men and women focused their comments on improvement in health and quality of life as reasons for treatment effectiveness. The supervised model of care with injectable medications provides a particularly suitable framework for providing care to opioid-dependent men and women not attracted or retained by other treatments. The absence of statistical differences reported in this secondary analysis may be due to lack of adequate statistical power to detect meaningful effects.

Trial registration

This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01447212) Registered: October 4, 2011 at the following link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01447212.

An Examination of Women Ex-Offenders With Methadone Histories

Criminal (drug and prostitution) charges, employment levels (weekly hours), recent substance use in the past 6 months, and primary sources of income were examined among a sample ( n = 106) of women ex-offenders who had opioid use disorders with and without methadone histories. A general linear model was tested to examine differences in relation to methadone use history. Results from a one-way MANCOVA found that those with methadone histories reported significantly higher levels of drug and prostitution charges than those without any methadone history, but no significant differences in terms of weekly hours of employment or recent substance use were observed between groups. Women ex-offenders with methadone histories reported various sources of income beyond employment, and proportionally, more of these women reported prostitution as a primary source of income. Findings suggest that methadone maintenance treatments are not sufficient in meeting the needs of women ex-offenders.

Identifying possible reasons why female street sex workers have poor drug treatment outcomes: a qualitative study

AIMS

To explore street sex workers (SSWs) views and experiences of drug treatment, in order to understand why this population tend to experience poor drug treatment outcomes.

DESIGN

In-depth interviews.

SETTING

Bristol, UK.

PARTICIPANTS

24 current and exited SSWs with current or previous experience of problematic use of heroin and/or crack cocaine.

FINDINGS

Participants described how feeling unable to discuss their sex work in drug treatment groups undermined their engagement in the treatment process. They outlined how disclosure of sex work resulted in stigma from male and female service users as well as adverse interactions with male service users. Participants highlighted that non-disclosure meant they could not discuss unresolved trauma issues which were common and which emerged or increased when they reduced their drug use. As trauma experiences had usually involved men as perpetrators participants said it was not appropriate to discuss them in mixed treatment groups. SSWs in recovery described how persistent trauma-related symptoms still affected their lives many years after stopping sex work and drug use. Participants suggested SSW-only services and female staff as essential to effective care and highlighted that recent service changes were resulting in loss of trusted staff and SSW-only treatment services. This was reported to be reducing the likelihood of SSWs engaging in drug services, with the resultant loss of continuity of care and reduced time with staff acting as barriers to an effective therapeutic relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

SSWs face many barriers to effective drug treatment. SSW-only treatment groups, continuity of care with treatment staff and contact with female staff, particularly individuals who have had similar lived experience, could improve the extent to which SSWs engage and benefit from drug treatment services. Service engagement and outcomes may also be improved by drug services that include identification and treatment of trauma-related symptoms.

Prevalence and factors associated with sex trading in the year prior to entering treatment for drug misuse in England

BACKGROUND

This study estimates the past year prevalence of and factors associated with sex trading (offering sex for money, drugs or something else) among 1796 men and women presenting to 342 drug misuse treatment agencies in England, and identifies service development and delivery implications.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of baseline data from a prospective cohort was conducted. Short Form-12 measured mental and physical wellbeing, psychiatric diagnoses were self-reported and the circumstances, motivation and readiness tool assessed readiness for/pressure to enter treatment. Logistic regression models determined associations with sex trading separately by sex. Inverse probability population weights were calculated, utilising demographics from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System and agency specific data collection windows.

RESULTS

The estimated prevalence rate of sex trading in the past 12 months was 5.1% (15.0% for women and 2.1% for men). For women, adjusted models identified crack use (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.22-2.74, p=0.004), previous treatment (aOR 3.00, 95% CI 1.31-6.86, p=0.010) and greater readiness for treatment (aOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01-1.24, p=0.027) as independently associated with sex trading. For men, lower mental wellbeing (aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-0.99, p=0.030) was independently associated and marginal effects were identified for syringe sharing (aOR 2.89, 95% CI 0.94-8.86, p=0.064) and unprotected sex (aOR 2.23, 95% CI 0.95-5.26, p=0.065).

CONCLUSIONS

Sex trading among drug misusers is associated with additional health risks and specific treatment needs. Given the scale of the problem it is important that treatment providers have the competencies to adequately address the issue and provide accessible and appropriate services.

Reducing stigma in healthcare and law enforcement: a novel approach to service provision for street level sex workers

Introduction

Providing services for street level sex workers requires a multidisciplinary approach, addressing both health and safety concerns typical of their age and gender and those that arise specific to their line of work. Despite being a diverse population, studies have identified some specific health needs for sex workers including addictions treatment, mental health. Additionally, studies have shown a higher risk of physical and sexual assault for this population. The Persons at Risk program (PAR) in London, Ontario, Canada was started in 2005 to address the specific needs of street level sex workers by using a harm-reduction model for policing and healthcare provision. This qualitative study evaluated this model of care in terms of improving access to healthcare and essential police services for street level sex workers.

Methods

A total of 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with current and former female street level sex workers enrolled in the PAR program. In addition, 3 semi-structured interviews were conducted with health and law enforcement professionals. The research team then analyzed and coded the transcripts using qualitative description to identify key themes in the data.

Results

Results indicated that participants represent a vulnerable population with increased safety concerns and healthcare needs relating to addictions, mental health and infectious disease. Despite this, participants reported avoiding healthcare workers and police officers in the past because of fear of stigma or repercussions. All participants identified the harm reduction approach of the PAR program as being essential to their continued engagement with the program. Other important aspects included flexible hours, the location of the clinic, streamlined access to mental health and addictions treatment and the female gender of the police and healthcare worker.

Conclusions

The PAR program provides sex workers access to much needed primary healthcare that is flexible and without judgment. In addition, they are provided with a direct avenue to access law enforcement. We feel a similar model of care could be applicable to many cities across Canada.

Management of drug misusers in Glasgow general hospitals

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to ascertain an awareness of the management of the drug misusing guidelines in Glasgow general hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

– A brief literature review was carried out to establish the available evidence for the guidelines. Additionally, a survey questionnaire was sent out to junior medical staff requesting their views on the drug misusing guidelines.

Findings

– A paucity of evidence relating to drug misusing guidelines was found from the literature. The Glasgow Guidelines appear to be a welcome source of information that is both comprehensive and easily accessible for staff. Junior medical staffs have broadly welcomed the guidance but would appreciate additional support on the management of patients prescribed Suboxone.

Research limitations/implications

– There should be an increase in training and development for junior medical staff regarding the guideline.

Originality/value

– The Glasgow Guidelines are aimed primarily at junior medical staff whose knowledge on drug misusing patients may be scarce. Increased training and awareness should improve the management of drug misusers in general hospitals. Consequently, patients should spent less time in hospital.