Building New Approaches to Risk Reduction With Social Networks and People Who Smoke Illegal Drugs From Participatory Community-Based Research

Jozaghi, Ehsan; Buxton, Jane A.; Thomson, Erica; Marsh, Samona; Gregg, Delilah; Bouchard, Martin

doi:10.1177/1609406918771247

Cited by 7 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Additional methods for this study have been described in detail (Jozaghi et al, 2018). Brie y, after consultations with two community groups above, the research proposal was approved, along with the questionnaire, and oral consent.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The safer crack use kit (SCUK) distribution programs and supervised smoking facilities (SSF) have played crucial roles in mitigating infection rates among PWSD, as well as communicating crucial information on the health risks of drug use, and the preventative measures and treatments available (Ivsins, Roth, Nakamura, Krajden, & Fischer, 2011;Prangnell et al, 2017), Spearheading many of these harm reduction initiatives in British Columbia is the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), a peer-led organization comprising individuals with lived drug experiences. VANDU invites community members to design and implement activities to promote safe drug practices in the Downtown East Side Community (DTES) (Jozaghi et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Socia networkl support and harm reduction activities in a peer led pilot study, British Columbia, Canada

Elkhalifa¹,

Jozaghi²,

Marsh³

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract Background: People who smoke drugs (PWSD) are at high risk of both infectious disease and overdose. Harm reduction activities organised by their peers in the community can reduce risk by providing education; safer smoking supplies, and facilitate access to other services. Peers also provide a network of people who provide social support to PWSD which may reinforce harm reducing behaviours. We evaluated the numbers of supportive network members and the relationships between received support and participants’ harm reducing activities.Methods: Initial peer-researchers with past or current lived drug use experience were employed from communities in Abbotsford and Vancouver to interview ten friends from their social networks who use illegal drugs mainly through smoking. Contacts completed a questionnaire about people in their own harm reduction networks, and their relationships with each other. We categorised social support into informational, emotional and tangible aspects, and harm reduction into being trained in the use of, or carrying naloxone; assisting peers with overdoses, using brass screens to smoke, obtaining pipes from service organisations and being trained in CPR.Results: Fifteen initial peer-researchers interviewed 149 participants who provided information on up to 10 people who were friends or contacts and the relationships between them. People who smoked drugs in public were 1.46 (95% CI;1.13-1.78) more likely to assist others with possible overdoses if they received tangible support; women who received tangible support were 1.24(95% CI;1.02-1.45) more likely to carry, and be trained in the use of naloxone. There was no relationship between number of supportive network members and harm reduction behaviours.Conclusions: In this pilot study, PWSD who received tangible support were more likely to assist peers in possible overdoses and be trained in the use of and/or carry naloxone, than those who did not receive tangible support. Future work on the social relationships of PWSD may prove valuable in the search for credible and effective interventions.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socia networkl support and harm reduction activities in a peer led pilot study, British Columbia, Canada

Elkhalifa¹,

Jozaghi²,

Marsh³

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The methods for this study have been described in detail (Jozaghi et al, 2018). Briefly, after consultations with two community groups above, the research proposal was approved, along with the questionnaire, and oral consent.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eight and seven PWSD with lived drug experiences were recruited from Abbotsford and Vancouver, respectively and paid $20.00 per hour, similar to research assistants at the university. These initial participants were asked to recruit 10 "contacts or friends" from their established networks, who use illegal drugs mainly through smoking; were 19 years of age or older, and to whom they felt comfortable administering the questionnaire (Jozaghi et al, 2018). Besides providing information on themselves, each of the 10 friends then provided proxy information on ten of their "friends or contacts" and the relationships between them, for a total of about 1,500 people.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The safer crack use kits (SCUK) distribution programs and supervised smoking facilities (SSF) have played crucial roles in mitigating infection rates among PWSD, as well as communicating crucial information on the health risks of drug use and the preventative measures and treatments available (Ivsins, Roth, Nakamura, Krajden, & Fischer, 2011;Prangnell et al, 2017), Spearheading many of these harm reduction initiatives in British Columbia is the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), a peer-led organization comprising individuals with lived drug experiences. VANDU invites community members to design and implement activities to promote safe drug practices in the Downtown Eastside Community (DTES) (Jozaghi et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Social support and harm reduction activities in a peer led pilot study with respondent driven sampling and community based participatory action research

Elkhalifa

Jozaghi

Marsh³

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: People who smoke drugs (PWSD) are at high risk of both infectious disease and overdose. Harm reduction activities organised by their peers in the community can reduce risk by providing education; safer smoking supplies, and facilitate access to other services. Peers also provide a network of people who provide social support to PWSD which may reinforce harm reducing behaviours. We evaluated the numbers of supportive network members and the relationships between received support and participants’ harm reducing activities.Methods: Initial participant-researchers with past or current lived drug use experience were employed from communities in Abbotsford and Vancouver to interview ten friends from their social networks who use illegal drugs mainly through smoking. Contacts completed a questionnaire about people in their own harm reduction networks, and their relationships with each other. We categorised social support into informational, emotional and tangible aspects, and harm reduction into being trained in the use of, or carrying naloxone; assisting peers with overdoses, using brass screens to smoke, obtaining pipes from service organisations and being trained in CPR.Results: Fifteen initial participant-researchers interviewed 149 participants who provided information on up to 10 people who were friends or contacts and the relationships between them. People who smoked drugs in public were 1.46 (95% CI;1.13-1.78) more likely to assist peers with possible overdoses if they received tangible support; women who received tangible support were 1.24(95% CI;1.02-1.45) more likely to carry, and be trained in the use of naloxone. There was no relationship between number of supportive network members and harm reduction behaviours.Conclusions: In this pilot study, PWSD who received tangible support were more likely to assist peers in possible overdoses and be trained in the use of and/or carry naloxone, than those who did not receive tangible support. Future work on the social relationships of PWSD may prove valuable in the search for credible and effective interventions.

show abstract

The Opioid Epidemic: Task-Shifting in Health Care and the Case for Access to Harm Reduction for People Who Use Drugs

Jozaghi

2020

Int J Health Serv

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We are sadly experiencing unprecedented levels of overdose mortalities attributed to the increased availability of synthetic opioids in illegal markets. While the majority of attention in North America has focused on preventing drug overdose cases through the distribution and administration of naloxone, in addition to stricter regulations of opioid prescriptions and greater law enforcement in illegal markets, little attention has been given to other alternative models and treatments for people who use drugs that are tailored specifically to the health care needs of this marginalized population. Through this analysis, the implications of task-shifting in health care via the distribution of naloxone for an already marginalized population are discussed. Alternatively, the role of pioneering harm-reduction programs – such as supervised injection/consumption sites, a variety of opioids maintenance therapies, and social-structural interventions – are highlighted as crucial interventions in the current ongoing opioid crisis. Moreover, people with lived experiences of illegal drug use are discussed as having a pivotal role but being ultimately overshadowed by public health partners.

show abstract

Building New Approaches to Risk Reduction With Social Networks and People Who Smoke Illegal Drugs From Participatory Community-Based Research

Cited by 7 publications

References 47 publications

Socia networkl support and harm reduction activities in a peer led pilot study, British Columbia, Canada

Socia networkl support and harm reduction activities in a peer led pilot study, British Columbia, Canada

Social support and harm reduction activities in a peer led pilot study with respondent driven sampling and community based participatory action research

The Opioid Epidemic: Task-Shifting in Health Care and the Case for Access to Harm Reduction for People Who Use Drugs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About