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Substance Use & Addiction: Injection Drug Use
The harms associated with the injection of illicit substances are a potential issue for all Canadians but most commonly for people that are vulnerable and marginalized. Canadians that have a history of victimization, poverty, family dysfunction (including substance use among family members), a low level of education, unemployment, and lack of access to appropriate healthcare are at increased risk of harm from drug use. It is estimated that up to 125,000 Canadians inject drugs, most commonly cocaine, heroine and steroids. Injection drug use can lead to death from overdose; complications arising from HIV, hepatitis or other communicable pathogens; and suicide, among other things.

There are pragmatic treatments and rehabilitation approaches that neither condone nor condemn substance use. They focus on reducing the harm. Such harm reduction measures include needle exchange programs, methadone maintenance treatment and other drug options. As well, outreach and educ...ation programs and cooperation between health and law enforcement officials help those who use drugs to access health and social services. Such measures are relatively new to Canada. Elsewhere, harm reduction initiatives have been shown to reduce: the sharing of needles and other drug paraphernalia; the transmission of infections; overdose deaths; and, crimes.

AUTHOR: Power, Asetha (2008) Homeless Hub. [Show More][Show Less]
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A Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN) initiative. The CHRN has received financial support from the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada