Initiation and/or re-initiation of drug use among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada from 2021 to 2022: a prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Widespread health service disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with a dramatic increase in overdose deaths among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Vancouver, Canada. Those with a history of injection drug use are known to be at heightened risk of substance-associated harms. Drug use patterns and associated sociodemographic and health care utilization trends have been understudied in this population since the pandemic onset. We sought to understand patterns of drug use initiation and/or re-initiation among people with a history of injection drug use (IVDU).

Methods

Data were obtained from three harmonized prospective cohort studies of PWUD in Vancouver. Participants with a lifetime history of IVDU who responded to a survey between June 2021 and M

SUBMITTER: Sergeant A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11385492 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature