“They’re not doing enough.”: women’s experiences with opioids and naloxone in Toronto
Abstract Background Amid increasing opioid overdose deaths in Canada since 2010 and a changing naloxone access landscape, there is a need for up-to-date research on Canadian women’s experiences with opioids. Studies on Canadian take-home naloxone programs are promising, but research beyond these pro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-021-00360-3 |
| _version_ | 1818416544413122560 |
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| author | Emilie R. Macleod Iren Tajbakhsh Sarah Hamilton-Wright Nancy Laliberte Jessica L. Wiese Flora I. Matheson |
| author_facet | Emilie R. Macleod Iren Tajbakhsh Sarah Hamilton-Wright Nancy Laliberte Jessica L. Wiese Flora I. Matheson |
| author_sort | Emilie R. Macleod |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Amid increasing opioid overdose deaths in Canada since 2010 and a changing naloxone access landscape, there is a need for up-to-date research on Canadian women’s experiences with opioids. Studies on Canadian take-home naloxone programs are promising, but research beyond these programs is limited. Our study is the first to focus on women’s experiences and perspectives on the opioid crisis in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, since the opioid crisis began in 2010. Objective Our objective was to address research knowledge gaps involving Canadian women with criminal justice involvement who use opioids, and identify flaws in current policies, responses, and practices. While the opioid overdose crisis persists, this lack of research inhibits our ability to determine whether overdose prevention efforts, especially involving naloxone, are meeting their needs. Methods We conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews from January to April 2018 with 10 women with experience of opioid use. They were recruited through the study’s community partner in Toronto. Participants provided demographic information, experiences with opioids and naloxone, and their perceptions of the Canadian government’s responses to the opioid crisis. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductive thematic analysis was conducted to determine major themes within the data. Results Thematic analysis identified seven major concerns despite significant differences in participant life and opioid use experiences. Participants who had used illicit opioids since naloxone became available over-the-counter in 2016 were much more knowledgeable about naloxone than participants who had only used opioids prior to 2016. The portability, dosage form, and effects of naloxone are important considerations for women who use opioids. Social alienation, violence, and isolation affect the wellbeing of women who use opioids. The Canadian government’s response to the opioid crisis was perceived as inadequate. Participants demonstrated differing needs and views on ideal harm reduction approaches, despite facing similar structural issues surrounding stigma, addiction management, and housing. Conclusions Participants experienced with naloxone use found it to be useful in preventing fatal overdose, however many of their needs with regards to physical, mental, and social health, housing, harm reduction, and access to opioid treatment remained unmet. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T11:52:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-272e24ebecf141c38482e03eaf0afb18 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1747-597X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T11:52:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-272e24ebecf141c38482e03eaf0afb182022-12-21T23:02:14ZengBMCSubstance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy1747-597X2021-03-0116111510.1186/s13011-021-00360-3“They’re not doing enough.”: women’s experiences with opioids and naloxone in TorontoEmilie R. Macleod0Iren Tajbakhsh1Sarah Hamilton-Wright2Nancy Laliberte3Jessica L. Wiese4Flora I. Matheson5MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalElizabeth Fry Society TorontoMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalSchool of Population and Public Health, University of British ColumbiaMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalAbstract Background Amid increasing opioid overdose deaths in Canada since 2010 and a changing naloxone access landscape, there is a need for up-to-date research on Canadian women’s experiences with opioids. Studies on Canadian take-home naloxone programs are promising, but research beyond these programs is limited. Our study is the first to focus on women’s experiences and perspectives on the opioid crisis in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, since the opioid crisis began in 2010. Objective Our objective was to address research knowledge gaps involving Canadian women with criminal justice involvement who use opioids, and identify flaws in current policies, responses, and practices. While the opioid overdose crisis persists, this lack of research inhibits our ability to determine whether overdose prevention efforts, especially involving naloxone, are meeting their needs. Methods We conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews from January to April 2018 with 10 women with experience of opioid use. They were recruited through the study’s community partner in Toronto. Participants provided demographic information, experiences with opioids and naloxone, and their perceptions of the Canadian government’s responses to the opioid crisis. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductive thematic analysis was conducted to determine major themes within the data. Results Thematic analysis identified seven major concerns despite significant differences in participant life and opioid use experiences. Participants who had used illicit opioids since naloxone became available over-the-counter in 2016 were much more knowledgeable about naloxone than participants who had only used opioids prior to 2016. The portability, dosage form, and effects of naloxone are important considerations for women who use opioids. Social alienation, violence, and isolation affect the wellbeing of women who use opioids. The Canadian government’s response to the opioid crisis was perceived as inadequate. Participants demonstrated differing needs and views on ideal harm reduction approaches, despite facing similar structural issues surrounding stigma, addiction management, and housing. Conclusions Participants experienced with naloxone use found it to be useful in preventing fatal overdose, however many of their needs with regards to physical, mental, and social health, housing, harm reduction, and access to opioid treatment remained unmet.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-021-00360-3QualitativeNaloxoneOpioidsWomenOverdoseCriminal justice |
| spellingShingle | Emilie R. Macleod Iren Tajbakhsh Sarah Hamilton-Wright Nancy Laliberte Jessica L. Wiese Flora I. Matheson “They’re not doing enough.”: women’s experiences with opioids and naloxone in Toronto Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy Qualitative Naloxone Opioids Women Overdose Criminal justice |
| title | “They’re not doing enough.”: women’s experiences with opioids and naloxone in Toronto |
| title_full | “They’re not doing enough.”: women’s experiences with opioids and naloxone in Toronto |
| title_fullStr | “They’re not doing enough.”: women’s experiences with opioids and naloxone in Toronto |
| title_full_unstemmed | “They’re not doing enough.”: women’s experiences with opioids and naloxone in Toronto |
| title_short | “They’re not doing enough.”: women’s experiences with opioids and naloxone in Toronto |
| title_sort | they re not doing enough women s experiences with opioids and naloxone in toronto |
| topic | Qualitative Naloxone Opioids Women Overdose Criminal justice |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-021-00360-3 |
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