TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Encounters with private security guards among people who inject drugs in a Canadian setting
JO  - International journal on drug policy
A1  - Kennedy, Mary Clare
A1  - Milloy, M-J
A1  - Markwick, Nicole
A1  - McNeil, Ryan
A1  - Dong, Huiru
A1  - Wood, Evan
A1  - Kerr, Thomas
SP  - 124
EP  - 127
VL  - 28
IS  - 
N2  - OBJECTIVES: Private security guards are increasingly regulating public space, including areas within urban drug scenes. We examined the prevalence and correlates of encounters with security guards among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Vancouver, Canada. <br><br>METHODS: Data were derived from two prospective cohort studies of PWID collected between December 2005 and May 2014. We used multivariable generalized estimating equations to identify factors associated with reporting encounters with private security guards. <br><br>RESULTS: Among 1714 participants, 616 (35.9%) reported encounters with security guards over the study period. In multivariable analyses, factors independently and positively associated with security guard encounters included: unstable housing (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.27); daily non-injection crack use (AOR=1.35); daily methamphetamine use (AOR=1.40); street-based income generation (AOR=1.58); incarceration (AOR=1.45); experiencing violence (AOR=1.90); non-fatal overdose (AOR=1.31); syringe sharing (AOR=1.45); public injection (AOR=1.68); and inability to access addiction treatment (AOR=1.60) (all p<0.05). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Security guard exposure was independently associated with various measures of vulnerability and drug-related harm. These findings highlight the need for regulatory reforms and broader structural interventions to reduce harm among PWID in this setting.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0955-3959
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.11.004
ID  - ref1
ER  -