Category Archives: Drug use behaviours/harm reduction
A meta-analysis of the association between needle exchange programs and HIV seroconversion among injection drug users
2018
We assessed the association between different levels of needle exchange program (NEP) use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion in the injecting drug user (IDU) population using meta-analysis to aggregate...
Cost-effectiveness of front-line services (Updated 2010)
2010
Key take-home messages There is no one-size-fits-all cost-effective HIV strategy. An intervention that is found to be effective at preventing HIV infection has a good chance of being cost-effective due...
Sex worker HIV risk
2012
Key take-home messages The Canadian literature primarily encompasses female sex workers in Vancouver, and studies from other high income countries often addressed demographic niches that were not transferrable to the...
Public perception of harm reduction interventions
2012
Key take-home messages Public opinion polls and surveys taken between 2003 and 2007 in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and nationwide in Canada, have found majority support for harm reduction programs,...
Adherence to methadone maintenance treatment and antiretroviral therapy
2013
Key take-home messages HIV-positive intravenous drug users (IDUs) are at greater risk of non-adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) compared to the general HIV population. Psychological problems, active drug...
Effective HIV prevention, education and outreach activities in African, Caribbean and Black communities
2014
Key take-home messages African, Caribbean and Black populations represent 14% of the HIV epidemic in Canada. To reduce new infections, HIV prevention intervention research is needed in these communities. Programs...
What is the effectiveness of supervised injection services?
2014
Key take-home messages The use of supervised injection services can lead to reductions in injecting behaviour and an increase in the number of clients accessing addiction treatment services. Supervised injection...
Crystal methamphetamine use, sexual risk behaviours and harm reduction among men who have sex with men
2015
Key take-home messages Use of crystal methamphetamine among men who have sex with men has been linked to unprotected sex, sex with multiple partners, sex with partners of unknown serostatus,...
HIV and STI testing among Indigenous women and women who inject drugs
2016
Key take-home messages Rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections are high among Indigenous women and women who inject drugs. For women who use drugs, centres that...
Chest compressions and rescue breathing when administering naloxone in opioid overdose
2016
Key take-home messages Opioid overdoses cause respiratory failure (a reduction or stop in breathing), which can lead to cardiac arrest. In the event of a suspected opioid overdose, bystanders should...
Engaging law enforcement in harm reduction programs for people who inject drugs
2016
Key take-home messages Injection drug use is a major contributor to the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C in Canada. Laws and policing practices that govern injection drug use influence...
NARCAN® Nasal Spray efficacy for emergency treatment of opioid overdose
2018
Key take-home messages The administration of ready-to-use, needle-free concentrated NARCAN® Nasal Spray (containing 4mg of naloxone hydrochloride in low volume of 0.1 mL) results in pharmacokinetic parameters that either equal...
