Factors Influencing the Acceptability of Nominal, Non-nominal, and Anonymous HIV Testing Options Among Young Men Living in Vancouver, Canada: A Qualitative Study.

Individuals unaware of their HIV seropositive status continue to represent a key "driver" of the HIV epidemic. Strategies to improve initiation into the HIV treatment cascade, including among young men, are required. This study assesses the acceptability of three HIV testing options among young cisgender men living in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Impact of Childhood Emotional Abuse on Pain Interference Among People with Chronic Pain who Inject Drugs in Vancouver, Canada.

Objective: High levels of chronic pain interference with daily activities are known to negatively impact quality of life. Although mental health conditions have been associated with pain interference and child abuse, research has been mixed regarding it acting as a mediator, with even less known among people who inject drugs. Therefore, we sought to explore childhood emotional abuse and pain interference among this population.

Childhood abuse as a risk factor for injection drug use: A systematic review of observational studies.

Issues: Childhood abuse is a public health challenge with lifelong impacts, including future drug use. However, previous research has been mixed regarding impacts on injection drug use. This systematic review examines the impact of childhood abuse (sexual, physical and emotional) on adult injection drug use.

The relationship between childhood emotional abuse and chronic pain among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) often contend with chronic pain as a result of illness and trauma, and such pain is known to have significant impacts on mental health, quality of life, and substance use behaviours. Although PWID are also known to have high rates of childhood trauma, little is known about how childhood emotional abuse may be associated with chronic pain in this population.

Objective: We undertook this study to explore emotional abuse and chronic pain among PWID.

High Prevalence of Self-Reported Exposure to Adulterated Drugs Among People Who Experienced an Opioid Overdose in Canada: A Cohort Study.

Background: In North America, rates of overdoses are increasing largely due to the adulteration of illicit drugs by illicit synthetic opioids.

Objectives: We sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of self-reported exposure to adulterated drugs among people who experienced a non-fatal opioid overdose.

Methods: Data were derived from three prospective cohort studies of people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada between June and November 2016.

The relationship between parental heavy drinking and non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada.

Background: Despite the acute drug-related and behavioural risk factors for experiencing a drug overdose, few remote childhood experiences have been examined as risk factors for subsequent later life overdose risk. Parental heavy drinking has been associated with some later life negative outcomes, but little is known regarding the impact on drug overdoses, especially among people who inject drugs. Given the current overdose crisis in North America, we sought to evaluate the impact of parental heavy drinking on later life non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada.

Workplace violence among female sex workers who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada: does client-targeted policing increase safety?

Workplace violence, by clients or predators, poses serious negative health consequences for sex workers. In 2013, the Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada Police Department changed their guidelines with the goal of increasing safety for sex workers by focusing law enforcement on clients and third parties, but not sex workers. We sought to examine the trends and correlates of workplace violence among female sex workers (FSW) before and after the guideline change, using data collected from prospective cohorts of persons who use illicit drugs in Vancouver, Canada.

Declining rates of health problems associated with crack smoking during the expansion of crack pipe distribution in Vancouver, Canada.

Background: Crack cocaine smoking is associated with an array of negative health consequences, including cuts and burns from unsafe pipes, and infectious diseases such as HIV. Despite the well-established and researched harm reduction programs for injection drug users, little is known regarding the potential for harm reduction programs targeting crack smoking to reduce health problems from crack smoking. In the wake of recent crack pipe distribution services expansion, we utilized data from long running cohort studies to estimate the impact of crack pipe distribution services on the rates of health problems associated with crack smoking in Vancouver, Canada.

Factors associated with inability to access addiction treatment among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada.

Background: Addiction treatment is an effective strategy used to reduce drug-related harm. In the wake of recent developments in novel addiction treatment modalities, we conducted a longitudinal data analysis to examine factors associated with inability to access addiction treatment among a prospective cohort of persons who inject drugs (PWID).

Methods: Data were derived from two prospective cohorts of PWID in Vancouver, Canada, between December 2005 and November 2013.