Table 1.
Demographic, behavioural, and risk environment characteristics disaggregated by willingness to use an SIS in Ottawaa
| Intention to use an SIS in Ottawa; no. (and %) of participantsb | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characteristicc | Yes | No |
| n = 205 | n = 67 | |
| Demographics, drug use, health | ||
| Age (median) | 42.0 | 44.0 |
| Female | 52 (25.4) | 10 (14.9) |
| French-speaking | 30 (14.6) | 11 (16.4) |
| Aboriginal identity | 39 (19.0) | 8 (11.9) |
| Market/Lowertown residence | 99 (48.3) | 35 (52.2) |
| LGBTQ identity | 29 (14.1) | 2 (3.0) |
| Injected crack cocaine | 114 (55.6) | 17 (25.4) |
| Injected speedball | 63 (30.7) | 8 (11.9) |
| Injected fentanyl | 79 (38.5) | 11 (16.4) |
| Injected heroin | 93 (45.4) | 15 (22.4) |
| Injected dilaudid | 133 (64.9) | 29 (43.3) |
| Injected morphine | 148 (72.2) | 36 (53.7) |
| Injected cocaine | 143 (69.8) | 35 (52.2) |
| Injected opiates a few times a week or more | 94 (45.9) | 20 (29.9) |
| Overdosed | 66 (32.2) | 13 (19.4) |
| Ever tested HIV positive | 26 (12.7) | 6 (9.0) |
| Last hep C test positive | 129 (62.9) | 32 (47.8) |
| Mental health diagnosis (ever) | 152 (74.1) | 52 (77.6) |
| Attempted suicide | 17 (8.3) | 4 (6.0) |
| Would use SIS daily | 103 (50.2) | NA |
| Physical risk environment | ||
| Injects in public | 81 (39.5) | 17 (25.4) |
| Used unknown needle | 34 (16.6) | 7 (10.4) |
| Injected with used needle | 50 (24.4) | 10 (14.9) |
| Injects with other people | 176 (85.9) | 44 (65.7) |
| Assistance to inject | 81 (39.5) | 18 (26.9) |
| Social risk environment | ||
| Ever redzonedd | 102 (49.8) | 20 (29.9) |
| Stopped/searched by police | 151 (73.7) | 45 (67.2) |
| Kept overnight or longer in jail | 97 (47.3) | 32 (47.8) |
| Policy risk environment | ||
| Trouble accessing new needles | 39 (19.0) | 6 (9.0) |
| Access addiction treatment | 80 (39.0) | 26 (38.8) |
| Have regular doctor | 113 (55.1) | 33 (49.3) |
| Sought care in hospital/ER | 89 (43.4) | 27 (40.3) |
| Tested for HIV (ever) | 188 (91.7) | 57 (85.1) |
| Economic risk environment | ||
| Received drugs, $, gifts for sex | 38 (18.5) | 6 (9.0) |
| Sex work primary source of income | 13 (6.3) | 4 (6.0) |
| Unstably housed | 123 (60.0) | 32 (15.6) |
| Homeless past 12 months | 164 (80.0) | 47 (22.9) |
aPercentages are calculated within the subgroups of participants willing or not willing to use an SIS
bBecause of missing responses, the data for some characteristics do not sum to 272
cAll variables are reported for the previous 12 months unless otherwise specified
dRedzones are defined as any geographical area or neighborhood where law enforcement had restricted the participant’s movement