NCJ Number
204388
Journal
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: 2003 Pages: 51-58
Date Published
2003
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examined differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal injecting drug users (IDU's) in Sydney, Australia, in terms of gender, prison history, and hepatitis C status and testing.
Abstract
The study used secondary analyses of existing databases. The studies selected for secondary analyses were completed by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center since 1997 and contain information on Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander status. Data for three cross-sectional studies of IDU's recruited in Sydney were available for review. These studies were aggregated into one dataset, since they all targeted similar populations and used similar entry criteria. Participants were either current IDU's (any drug), heroin users, or participants in a methadone maintenance program. All of the studies collected information on demographics, main drug used, needle and syringe sharing, and prison history. Two of the studies collected information on self-reported hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV) status and drug treatment history. One study collected information on HCV testing. Aboriginal people were overrepresented in all of the studies. They were more likely to have been incarcerated and to report heroin as their drug of choice than were non-Aboriginal IDU's. Females tended to be overrepresented among Aboriginal IDU's, and they were more likely to have been incarcerated and to have had a longer period since their last hepatitis C test than non-Aboriginal female IDU's. Due to their greater risk of incarceration, particularly among females, Aboriginal IDU's were at greater risk of hepatitis C exposure than non-Aboriginal IDU's. The prison setting thus provides an opportunity to promote drug treatment and testing for hepatitis C. Efforts should also be made to reduce drug use and incarceration among Aborigines. 2 tables and 19 references