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Start Over Author "Tarasuk, Jill" Topic people who inject drugs
2 results on '"Tarasuk, Jill"'

1. The hepatitis C epidemic in Canada: An overview of recent trends in surveillance, injection drug use, harm reduction and treatment

Author

Lourenço, Lillian, Kelly, Marian, Tarasuk, Jill, Stairs, Kyla, Bryson, Maggie, Popovic, Nashira, and Aho, Josephine

Subjects
Overview, hcv, people who inject drugs, needle-and-syringe programs, substance use, epidemiology, General Medicine, canadian drugs and substances strategy, Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216, supervised consumption, pwid
Abstract

Hepatitis C continues to be a significant public health concern in Canada, with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) responsible for more life-years lost than all other infectious diseases in Canada. An increase in reported hepatitis C infections was observed between 2014 and 2018. Here, we present changing epidemiological trends and discuss risk factors for hepatitis C acquisition in Canada that may have contributed to this increase in reported hepatitis C infections, focusing on injection drug use. We describe a decrease in the use of borrowed needles or syringes coupled with an increase in using other used injection drug use equipment. Also, an increased prevalence of injection drug use and use of prescription opioid and methamphetamine injection by people who inject drugs (PWID) may be increasing the risk of HCV acquisition. At the same time, while harm reduction coverage appears to have increased in Canada in recent years, gaps in access and coverage remain. We also consider how direct-acting antiviral (DAA) eligibility expansion may have affected hepatitis C rates from 2014 to 2018. Finally, we present new surveillance trends observed in 2019 and discuss how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may affect hepatitis C case counts from 2020 onwards. Continual efforts to i) enhance hepatitis C surveillance and ii) strengthen the reach, effectiveness, and adoption of hepatitis C prevention and treatment services across Canada are vital to reducing HCV transmission among PWID and achieving Canada’s HCV elimination targets by 2030.

Published
2021

2. National findings from the Tracks survey of people who inject drugs in Canada, Phase 4, 2017-2019.

Author

Tarasuk, Jill, Jingxuan Zhang, Lemyre, Anaïs, Cholette, François, Bryson, Maggie, Paquette, Dana, and Zhang, Jingxuan

Subjects
NEEDLE exchange programs, HEPATITIS C, HIV, PROMISCUITY, RNA, ANAL sex
Abstract

Background: The Tracks survey of people who inject drugs (PWID) collected data in 14 sentinel sites across Canada (2017-2019).Objective: To describe the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C and associated risk behaviours and to examine trends over time.Methods: Information regarding socio-demographics, social determinants of health, use of prevention services and testing, drug use, risk behaviours, and HIV and hepatitis C testing, care and treatment was collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires. Biological samples were tested for HIV, hepatitis C antibodies and hepatitis C ribonucleic acid (RNA). Descriptive statistics were calculated and trends over time were assessed.Results: Of the 2,383 participants, 65.6% were cisgender male, 42.2% were Indigenous, 48.0% completed some high school or less, 62.6% lived in unstable housing and 75.7% had ever been incarcerated. Average age was 40.1 years. The majority experienced stigma and discrimination (88.7%) and physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse in childhood (85.0%) or with a sexual partner (75.9%). The majority reported use of a needle/syringe distribution program (90.1%) and tested for HIV (90.5%) and hepatitis C (90.9%).Among participants who had ever had sex, the majority (59.2%) reported inconsistent condom use during vaginal and/or anal sex with a casual sex partner. Prevalence of HIV was 10.3% (82.9% were aware of infection status) and many (36.9%) were hepatitis C RNA-positive (50.1% were aware of infection status).Most surveillance indicators remained relatively stable from Phase 1 to Phase 4. Changes were found in substances used, and improvements were noted related to HIV and hepatitis C prevalence and care cascade indicators.Conclusion: Many PWID in Canada were living in unstable housing and experienced high levels of stigma and discrimination. Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C was high in some areas. These findings contribute to the evidence base used to inform targeted prevention and control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2020
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