384P
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CRACK PIPE SHARING AMONG A COHORT OF INJECTION DRUG USERS IN VANCOUVER
K Shannon, E Wood, C Callon, C Collins, K Li, M Tyndall, T Kerr
BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia
Background: There is emerging evidence indicating health-related risks associated with crack cocaine smoking and the sharing of crack pipes. However, the extent of crack pipe sharing has not been characterized in Vancouver. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of crack pipe sharing among a cohort of injection drug users, and to determine factors associated with this particular risk behaviour.
Methods: We used univariate and multivariate statistics to identify factors associated with crack pipe sharing among participants enrolled in the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS).
Results: In total, 468 participants reported crack smoking and were eligible for this analysis, including 205 (44%) women. Among these individuals, 316 (68%) reported sharing a crack pipe in the previous six months. Factors independently associated with crack pipe sharing included: male gender (AOR=0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.8), sex trade involvement, (AOR=1.8, 95% CI:1.0–3.4), daily crack cocaine use (AOR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.3–3.1), binge drug use (AOR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.1–3.6), and nonfatal overdose (AOR=4.1, 95% CI: 1.2–14.1).
Conclusions: In summary, a majority of crack-smoking IDU in this study reported sharing crack pipes. Crack pipe sharing was associated with previously identified high-risk behaviours including sex trade involvement, frequent crack use, binge drug use and nonfatal overdose. This high risk behaviour among crack users in this cohort indicate the urgent need for interventions that target crack users.