The association between benzodiazepine proliferation in the unregulated drug supply and experiences of violence: A gender-based analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rising contamination of illicitly-manufactured benzodiazepines in unregulated opioids in Canada poses concern as their strong sedative effects may increase vulnerability to violence for people who use drugs (PWUD), particularly women. The current study longitudinally examined the relationship between suspected exposure to benzodiazepines (SEB) and violent victimization, assessing for gender differences.

Methods

Data were drawn from 1049 participants (40.9 % women) from three harmonized prospective cohorts of community-recruited PWUD in Vancouver, Canada between 2021 and 2023. We conducted gender-stratified analyses, with a three-level exposure variable 1) primary SEB: through using unregulated benzodiazepines, 2) secondary SEB: only through using other unregulated

SUBMITTER: Swaich A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12767693 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature