Profile of Injection Drug Use in Atlantic Canada: Final Report. 2000.

A compilation of current knowledge about injection drug use in the Atlantic Region, based on a literature search, surveys and key informant interviews.
By Caroline Ploem
69 pages
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Description

Profile of Injection Drug Use in Atlantic Canada: Final Reportis a 69-page compilation of current knowledge about injection drug use in the Atlantic region. It presents both qualitative and quantitative data obtained through questionnaires, interviews and a literature search, in order to answer the following questions:

What types of drugs are being injected? What are the drugs of choice? In what settings are drugs being injected?

What are the demographic characteristics of the regions's injection drug users?

What is the prevalence of unsafe injection and sexual risk activities among the region's injection drug users?

What do we know about the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other communicable diseases among injection drug users in the Atlantic Provinces?

The report identifies Dilaudid and cocaine/crack as drugs of choice among injection drug users, and describes patterns pertaining to the choice of drug across the region. It describes patterns and trends relating to the demographic characteristics of injection drug users and identifies the primary settings where drug use occurs: the home, crack houses, correctional facilities, the street and house parties. The study provides evidence of various unsafe injection and sexual behaviours among injection drug users.

Data on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C obtained from provincial departments of health indicate that hepatitis C is the most prevalent of the three communicable diseases across the Atlantic region, and the most prevalent among injection drug users. Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS are relatively less common. The report points out, however, that most injection drug users have not been tested for these diseases.

Credits

Profile of Injection Drug Use in Atlantic Canada: Final Report was produced by Caroline Ploem for the Atlantic Regional Office of the Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada.

Availability

This report is available for download in English (1150 KB) and French (4490 KB). You will require the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

For more information on obtaining copies of the document, call or write

Public Health Agency of Canada
Suite 1525, 15th Floor, Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3Y6
Tel: (902) 426-2700
Fax: (902) 426-9689
E-mail: atlantic-atlantique@phac-aspc.gc.ca