Addressing Violence and Overdose Among Women Who Use Drugs—Need for Structural Interventions

Navigating multiple pandemics: A critical analysis of the impact of COVID-19 policy responses on gender-based violence services

“…Situating these pandemics in a hierarchy creates the illusion that these pandemics are distinct and should be dealt with individually, when in reality they intersect in time, have overlapping root causes and people may have lived experience of more than one at a time. For example, we know that many people who experience GBV also experience racism (as well as other forms of discrimination and social exclusion) and use substances to cope with the consequences of their trauma experiences ( Dlamini, 2021 ; Goldenberg, 2020 ; Sullivan et al, 2021 ). The GBV, racism and opioid-related overdose pandemics are longstanding, with mounting evidence that they worsened at an accelerated rate during the COVID-19 pandemic ( Crooks et al, 2021 ; Devakumar et al, 2020 ; Gomes et al, 2021 ; Norton and Kerr, 2020 ; United Nations, 2021 ; World Health Organization, 2021a ).…”

Prevalence and high-risk behaviors associated with non-fatal overdose among people who use illicit opioids: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Findings showed that PWUIOs who were female were more likely to experience non-fatal overdose. According to previous studies, high rates of overdose among women have been reported, with 37.5% reporting a lifetime overdose and 18% reporting an overdose in the past three months, with most overdoses related to heroin or nonmedical use of prescription opioids (El-Bassel et al, 2020;Goldenberg, 2020). Although opioid-related overdoses is a major public health problem and may affect many groups of individuals, current knowledge of gendered experiences and requirements in the context of drug overdoses are arguably inadequate (Collins et al, 2019).…”

Structural racism and violence: Routine healthcare access in a cohort of marginalized Indigenous women and Two-Spirit Peoples during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The COVID-19 pandemic further magnified existing health inequities that disproportionately impacts the health and well-being of Indigenous women and Two-Spirit Peoples ( 6 , 10 , 21 ). Sex workers and women living with HIV have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic facing loss of income and lack of access to outreach services as well as stigmatization and harassment by governments and police ( 22 , 23 ). Gendered impacts of COVID-19 include increased economic insecurity, unplanned pregnancy, lack of access to health services, domestic violence, lack of women’s voice and agency, and mental health issues ( 6 , 12 , 15 , 24 ).…”

“…These acts of colonialism have ensured and continue to ensure that Indigenous Peoples are intentionally excluded from accessing equitable healthcare. The impacts of colonial violence on the health of Indigenous Peoples have been severe, leading to health issues that were not present prior to colonization, for example, mental health issues ( 7 ), tuberculosis ( 36 ), diabetes ( 37 ), cancer ( 38 ), and violence ( 22 ). The widespread racism and violence against Indigenous Peoples in Canadian systems of care led to the In Plain Sight inquiry.…”

“…Sex workers face disproportionate health and social inequities, for example, high rates of HIV and STI’s, violence, and criminalization ( 56 ). Sex workers and women living with HIV face several sources of structural violence, including lifetime exposure to violence, intimate partner violence, gender-based violence, and police harassment that impacts their access to healthcare services ( 22 , 31 , 57 ). A growing body of evidence has highlighted how culturally safe and trauma-informed healthcare services may reduce barriers to healthcare services among racialized and minoritized populations ( 7 , 58 , 59 ).…”