Risk profile of individuals who provide assistance with illicit drug injections

Assisted injection is a common practice among injection drug users (IDU) that carries significant risk for health-related harm. However, little is known about the individuals who provide assistance with injections.

We evaluated factors associated with providing help injecting among participants enrolled in the Vancouver Injection Drug User Study (VIDUS) using univariate and logistic regression analyses. We also examined self-reported relationships between the provider and the receiver of assisted injection, if compensation was provided for assistance, and what type of compensation was given.

Of the 704 IDU eligible for this analysis, 193 (27.4%) had provided help injecting during the last 6 months. Variables independently associated with providing help injecting included: lending one's own syringe (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.99, p = 0.004); frequent heroin injection (AOR = 3.75, p < 0.001); unstable housing (AOR = 2.15, p < 0.001); binge drug use (AOR = 2.01, p = 0.012); frequent cocaine injection (AOR = 1.95, p = 0.002); and frequent use of crack cocaine (AOR = 1.85, p = 0.002). Help was most often provided to a casual (47.2%) or a close friend (41.5%). Of the 96 (49.7%) individuals who received compensation for providing help, the most common forms of compensation were drugs (89.6%) and money (45.8%).

Providing help injecting was common among IDU in this cohort and was associated with various high-risk behaviours, including elevated levels of syringe lending. These findings indicate the need for interventions that offset the risks associated with this dangerous practice.