Study Finds HIV Spike Among BC Drug Users Linked To COVID-19 Lockdown | Nanaimo News NOW

But the lead author of the report, released Friday, Dr. Jeffrey Joy, said he had found a “surprising” spike in infections among some drug users during the lockdown.

The infection rate among such people has remained fairly stable for about a decade, Joy said.

“That’s because treatment and prevention services are so well-permeated in these populations,” he said in an interview.

B.C. is a global leader in epidemic surveillance, which means the results are likely to apply elsewhere, says Joy.

“We are uniquely positioned to be able to find these things,” he said. “The reason I thought it was important to do this research and put it out there is probably because it’s happening everywhere, but other places aren’t monitoring the HIV epidemic the same way we are. “

Health officials need to look at innovative solutions, said Rachel Miller, co-author of the report. It should not be inadvertently aggravated,” he said.

“These services are the first line of defense in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Many of them have faced disruptions, closures, capacity restrictions and other challenges,” Miller said in a news release. I’m here.

“Maintaining access to and engagement with HIV services is absolutely essential to prevent setbacks in epidemic control and unnecessary harm.”

The Ministry of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The researchers said the surge in “selected groups” may be due to a combination of factors, such as housing insecurity and declining trust, creating barriers for many people who normally receive HIV services. He said it may have increased.

British Columbia will become the first province in Canada to decriminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs in January after receiving a temporary federal exemption in May.

Joy said the decision, along with measures such as safe supplies and safe needle replacement, would have the effect of preventing similar problems in the future.

“The key message here is that during crises, public health emergencies, or other crises, we need to help more of the truly vulnerable than less,” he said. Told.

“At the very least, we need to provide continuity and access to the services they rely on. Failure to do so will only lead to problems with potentially long-term consequences.”

This report by the Canadian Press was first published on September 24, 2022.

Brieanna Charlebois, Canadian Press

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