@article{ref1,
title="The association between experiencing discrimination and physical and mental health among PWID",
journal="International journal on drug policy",
year="2019",
author="Couto E Cruz, Camila and Salom, Caroline L. and Dietze, Paul and Burns, Lucinda and Alati, Rosa",
volume="65",
number="",
pages="24-30",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Discrimination can be a daily issue in the lives of people who inject drugs (PWID). However, the extent to which discrimination is related to the health of PWID remains unclear. <br><br>METHODS: Data focusing on discrimination against PWID and potential health correlates were collected as part of the 2013 Illicit Drug Reporting System, a national survey with 887 PWID recruited in all Australian states and territories. Experience of discrimination, its setting, perceived reason and outcome, were self-reported by participants. The Kessler-10 scale and the mental component score of the Short Form 12-Item Health Survey were used to measure mental health. Physical health was assessed using the physical component score of the Short Form 12-Item Health Survey, specifically questions assessing injecting related problems and risk behaviour. Poisson and multinomial regression analyses were performed. Models were adjusted for socio-demographic and drug-related covariates. <br><br>FINDINGS: PWID reported experiencing discrimination in pharmacies, hospitals, government services and doctors/prescribers. The most commonly reported instances of discrimination were being refused service and experiencing abuse and/or violence. Experience of discrimination was associated with mental and physical health indicators. PWID who experienced discrimination were more likely to report high or very high mental distress (ARRR = 2.4, CI<sub>95</sub> = 1.5-3.6) and mental health problems (ARRR = 1.4, CI<sub>95</sub> = 1.2-1.7). The mental functioning (ARRR = 1.3, CI<sub>95</sub> = 1.1-1.4) and physical functioning (ARRR = 1.1, CI<sub>95</sub> = 1.1-1.4) of PWID, who experienced discrimination, were also more likely to be below Australian population mean scores. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Self-reported experience of discrimination was associated with poor mental and physical health amongst PWID.<br><br>Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0955-3959",
doi="10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.12.010",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.12.010"
}