Violence, Policing, and Systemic Racism as Structural Barriers To Substance Use Treatment Amongst Women Sex Workers Who Use Drugs: Findings Of A Community-Based Cohort In Vancouver, Canada (2010-2019)

Original research
by
Goldenberg, Shira et al

Release Date

2022

Geography

Canada

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

We evaluated (1) structural correlates of unsuccessful attempts to access substance use treatment; and (2) the interaction between policing and Indigenous ancestry on unsuccessful attempts to access treatment among sex workers (SWs) who use drugs.

Findings/Key points

In interaction analysis, Indigenous SWs who experienced police harassment faced the highest odds of unsuccessful attempts to access substance use treatment. Findings suggest a need to scale-up culturally-safe, trauma-informed addictions, gender-based violence, and sex worker services, alongside dismantling of systemic racism across and beyond health and addictions services.

Design/methods

Prospective data were from an open community-based cohort of women SWs (2010-2019) in Vancouver, Canada.

Keywords

Decriminalization/legalization
Equity
About PWUD
Barriers and enablers
Legal system/law enforcement
Illegal drugs
Indigenous
Sex/Gender
Transitions in care/treatment