Drug use trends in Victoria and Vancouver, and changes in injection drug use after the closure of Victoria’s fixed site needle exchange
Date
2010
Authors
Ivsins, Andrew
Chow, Clifton
Marsh, David
Macdonald, Scott
Stockwell, Tim
Vallance, Kate
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Centre for Addictions Research of BC
Abstract
Overview
This 6th CARBC statistical bulletin reports trends in injection drug use in Victoria and Vancouver from the
BC Alcohol and Other Drug Monitoring Project (www.AODmonitoring.ca). As well, changes before and
after the closure of Victoria’s fixed site needle exchange in June 2008 are examined.
Results are reported from 464 interviews (226 in Vancouver, 238 in Victoria) with adult injection drug
users conducted in 5 waves using a standardised sampling strategy, every 6 months from July 2007 to
December 2009.
Around the time of the closure of the fixed site needle exchange in Victoria, there were shifts in the
types of drugs injected and an increase in unsafe injecting practices. At the same time, numbers of clean
needles distributed in Victoria since the closure fell by over 15,000 per month.
Across both cities and all time periods, crack cocaine was the most commonly used substance, after
tobacco, in the past 30 days (86%), followed by powdered cocaine (70%).
When the needle exchange ceased operation on May 31, 2008, the data shows a brief decrease in daily
injection among the sample, followed by a steady rise to higher levels than pre-closure over the next
year. Trends show a decline in Vancouver during the same period. By the second half of 2009, there was a
substantially higher proportion of frequent drug injectors in Victoria than Vancouver (89% vs. 29%).
Needle sharing was significantly more common in Victoria than Vancouver (see Figure 1). Rates increased
to 23% in Victoria, up from 10% before the fixed site needle exchange closure, compared with 8% in
Vancouver - a concern highlighted by qualitative data suggesting this increase was directly linked to the
closure.
It is recommended that measures be taken to increase ease of access to both clean needles and
crack- using paraphernalia to limit the spread of blood-borne viruses in the community.
Description
CARBC Statistical Bulletin
Keywords
drug use trends in Victoria and Vancouver, injection drug, Victoria's fixed site needle exchange