Puerto rican drug users’ experiences of physical and sexual abuse: Comparisons based on sexual identities

Finlinson, H. Ann; Robles, Rafaela R.; Cólón, HÃ©ctor M.; López, Mayra Soto; Negrón, María del Carmen; Oliver-Velez, Denise; Deren, Sherry; Andia, Jonny; Cant, John G. H.

doi:10.1080/00224490309552192

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our findings are consistent with previous studies reporting high levels of exposure to violence among PWID (Degenhardt & Hall, 2012; Chermack & Blow 2002; Finlinson et al, 2003; Richardson et al, 2015). However, to our knowledge, this is the first study to document an association between residential eviction and elevated exposure to violence among a prospective cohort of male and female PWID.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Studies from diverse settings have described disproportionately high levels of exposure to violence among PWID (Chermack & Blow, 2002; Finlinson et al, 2003; Marshall, Fairbairn, Li, Wood & Kerr, 2008), with one recent study finding that 52% of PWID experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence over a seven-year study period (Richardson et al, 2015). Such exposure to violence has been shown to have adverse consequences for PWID that extend beyond immediate physical injuries to include an array of severe health and social harms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Residential eviction and exposure to violence among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada

Kennedy

McNeil

Milloy

et al. 2017

International Journal of Drug Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background People who inject drugs (PWID) experience markedly elevated rates of physical and sexual violence, as well as housing instability. While previous studies have demonstrated an association between homelessness and increased exposure to violence among PWID, the relationship between residential eviction and violence is unknown. We therefore sought to examine the association between residential eviction and experiencing violence among PWID in Vancouver, Canada. Methods Data were derived from two open prospective cohort studies of PWID: the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS) and the AIDS Care Cohort to evaluate Exposure to Survival Services (ACCESS). We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to estimate the relationship between residential eviction and experiencing violence among male and female PWID, respectively. Results Between June 2007 and May 2014, 1689 participants were eligible for the analysis, contributing a median of 5.5 years of follow-up. Of these, 567 (33.6%) were female. In total, 259 (45.7%) of females and 566 (50.4%) of males experienced at least one incident of violence over the study period. In multivariable GEE models, residential eviction was independently associated with greater odds of experiencing violence among both females (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39–3.13) and males (AOR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.49–2.55), after adjustment for potential confounders. Conclusion Residential eviction was independently associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing violence among both male and female PWID. These findings point to the need for evidence-based social-structural interventions to mitigate housing instability and violence among PWID in this setting.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Residential eviction and exposure to violence among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada

Kennedy

McNeil

Milloy

et al. 2017

International Journal of Drug Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similar proportions of men and women reported experiencing a recent violent attack at baseline (21% vs. 22%) and over the follow-up period (50% vs. 43%). These results are consistent with previous studies that have observed comparable overall rates of received violence among drug-using men and women (Chermack et al, 2001;Finlinson et al, 2003). In longitudinal multivariate analyses examining the risk factors associated with received violence, many similarities between sexes were observed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Although few studies have examined the risk factors for received violence among male substance users, the prevalence of physical violence among this population is also strikingly high (Finlinson et al, 2003). One study examining received violence in a sample of individuals participating in substance abuse treatment found no gender difference in the proportion of participants reporting violence from partners (61% versus 65% among men and women, respectively), while males reported higher rates of violence from non-partners (75% versus 45% among men and women, respectively) (Chermack et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical violence among a prospective cohort of injection drug users: A gender-focused approach

Marshall

Fairbairn

et al. 2008

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although dramatically heightened rates of violence have been observed among injection drug users (IDU), little is known about the gender differences associated with violence among this population. Employing a risk environment framework, we performed an analysis of the factors associated with experiencing violence among participants enrolled in a prospective cohort study of IDU during the years 1996-2005 using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Among 1114 individuals, 291 (66%) of females and 470 (70%) of males reported experiencing violence during the study period. In multivariate analyses, mental illness, frequent alcohol use, frequent crack use, homelessness, Downtown Eastside residency, and requiring help injecting were positively associated with experiencing violence for both sexes (all p < 0.05). For females, binge drug use (AOR = 1.30) and drug dealing (AOR = 1.42) were positively associated with violence, while younger age (AOR = 1.02), frequent heroin injection (AOR = 1.24), and incarceration (AOR = 1.50) were significant for males. Women were more likely to be attacked by acquaintances, partners, and sex trade clients, while men were more likely to experience violence from strangers and the police. These findings indicate that susceptibility to violence among IDU is structured by environmental factors such as homelessness and drug-related factors such as frequent alcohol use and involvement in drug economies. Furthermore, important gender differences with respect to the predictors and characteristics of violent attacks do exist. These findings indicate an urgent need for the development of comprehensive programs and structural interventions that take a gender-focused approach to violence among IDU.

show abstract

“…Exposure to these settings has been identified as a risk factor for violence (El-Bassel et al, 2005; Klein & Levy, 2003). Accordingly, people who inject drugs (PWID) are significantly more likely to experience violence than the general population (Chermack & Blow, 2002; Finlinson et al, 2003), with one recent epidemiological study finding that 70% and 66% of male and female PWID, respectively, experienced violence over a five-year period (Marshall et al, 2008). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negotiating place and gendered violence in Canada's largest open drug scene

McNeil¹,

Shannon²,

Shaver³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Drug Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is home to Canada’s largest street-based drug scene and only supervised injection facility (Insite). High levels of violence among men and women have been documented in this neighbourhood. This study was undertaken to explore the role of violence in shaping the socio-spatial relations of women and ‘marginal men’ (i.e., those occupying subordinate positions within the drug scene) in the Downtown Eastside, including access to Insite. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 people who inject drugs (PWID) recruited through the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, a local drug user organization. Interviews included a mapping exercise. Interview transcripts and maps were analyzed thematically, with an emphasis on how gendered violence shaped participants’ spatial practices. Results Hegemonic forms of masculinity operating within the Downtown Eastside framed the everyday violence experienced by women and marginal men. This violence shaped the spatial practices of women and marginal men, in that they avoided drug scene milieus where they had experienced violence or that they perceived to be dangerous. Some men linked their spatial restrictions to the perceived 'dope quality' of neighbourhood drug dealers to maintain claims to dominant masculinities while enacting spatial strategies to promote safety. Environmental supports provided by health and social care agencies were critical in enabling women and marginal men to negotiate place and survival within the context of drug scene violence. Access to Insite did not motivate participants to enter into “dangerous” drug scene milieus but they did venture into these areas if necessary to obtain drugs or generate income. Conclusion Gendered violence is critical in restricting the geographies of men and marginal men within the street-based drug scene. There is a need to scale up existing environmental interventions, including supervised injection services, to minimize violence and potential drug-related risks among these highly-vulnerable PWID.

show abstract

Puerto rican drug users’ experiences of physical and sexual abuse: Comparisons based on sexual identities

Cited by 17 publications

References 33 publications

Residential eviction and exposure to violence among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada

Residential eviction and exposure to violence among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada

Physical violence among a prospective cohort of injection drug users: A gender-focused approach

Negotiating place and gendered violence in Canada's largest open drug scene

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About