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Using illicit drugs alone in Vancouver, Canada: a gender-based analysis
Kat Gallant1,2, Kanna Hayashi1,3, Eric C Sayre1
1British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
|February 22, 2025
Summary
Factors influencing solitary drug use vary significantly by gender. Homelessness and stimulant use uniquely affect cisgender men, while depression impacts cisgender women. Understanding these gender-specific risks is crucial for harm reduction.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Addiction Studies
Background:
- Canada faces an ongoing epidemic of toxic drug-related overdose deaths.
- Public health messaging warns against using drugs alone due to delayed overdose response.
- Despite warnings, solitary drug use remains common among people who use drugs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how factors associated with solitary drug use differ across various gender identities in Vancouver, Canada.
- To address the gap in knowledge regarding gender-specific risks of using drugs alone.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study (Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study) from June 2019 to May 2023.
- Gender-stratified multivariable generalized estimating equation models were employed.
- Analysis identified factors associated with solitary drug use across different gender groups.
Main Results:
- Of 697 participants, 42.6% reported using drugs alone.
- For cisgender men, homelessness and daily illicit stimulant use were positively associated with solitary use.
- Depression was positively associated with solitary drug use for cisgender women, but not cisgender men.
Conclusions:
- Significant heterogeneity exists in gender-specific factors contributing to solitary drug use.
- Homelessness and stimulant use are key factors for cisgender men; depression is significant for cisgender women.
- Gender-specific approaches are essential for public health messaging and harm reduction strategies addressing solitary drug use.
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