Public injection drug use in Vancouver’s downtown eastside: addressing public health and public order concerns

This study investigates public injecting among participants enrolled in VIDUS using logistic regression analyses. Variables found to be significant and positively associated with public injection include: homelessness, frequent heroin injection, frequent crack use and binge drug use. Participation in addiction treatment was found to be negatively associated with public injecting. A sub-analysis of reported reasons for public injecting provided further support for a strong link between homelessness and public injecting. A range of policy options to address public injection drug use were subsequently evaluated against selected criteria. Outcomes of this evaluation indicate that expanding drug consumption facilities and building supportive housing are the policy initiatives expected to have the greatest impact on reducing public injecting. Moving towards the medical regulation of selected currently illegal drugs was also identified as having potential to have a positive impact on the health and social harms associated with public injecting.