Open AccessGood Samaritan Drug Overdose Act awareness among people who use drugs in British Columbia, Canada
Author(s) -
Amiti Mehta,
Amina MoustaqimBarrette,
Kristi Papamihali,
Jessica Xavier,
Brittany Graham,
Sierra Williams,
Jane A. Buxton
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of community safety and well-being
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2371-4298
DOI - 10.35502/jcswb.197
Subject(s) - harm reduction , medicine , logistic regression , harm , odds ratio , psychological intervention , suicide prevention , emergency department , occupational safety and health , environmental health , poison control , medical emergency , family medicine , psychiatry , public health , psychology , nursing , social psychology , pathology
To address the increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths in Canada the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (GSDOA) was enacted in May 2017. The GSDOA aims to reduce concerns of police attending overdose events and encourage bystanders to call emergency services. This study explores GSDOA awareness and understanding and the factors associated with GSDOA awareness among people who use drugs (PWUD).
Methods: A cross-sectional drug and harm reduction service use survey containing GSDOA-specific questions wasconducted from October to December 2019 at 22 harm reduction supply distribution sites across British Columbia.Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to assess correlates of GSDOA awareness.
Results: Overall, 54.2% (n = 315) of the eligible study sample (n = 581) reported being aware of the GSDOA. Of respondents reporting awareness, 45.2% and 61.3%, respectively, had a full understanding of when and to whom the GSDOA provides legal protection. In the multivariable model, GSDOA awareness was significantly associated with respondents identifying as cis-men (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.03 [95% CI: 1.30–3.19]); and those who obtained harm reduction supplies frequently (at least a few times/week) compared with those who did not obtain supplies or obtained them less frequently (AOR = 1.78 [95% CI: 1.14–2.76]).
Conclusion: More than 2 years after its introduction, approximately half of harm reduction site clients reported being aware of the GSDOA, and, of these, less than two-thirds had a complete understanding of who is legally protected by the GSDOA. Future GSDOA knowledge dissemination should target PWUD who are less engaged with harm reduction services to improve GSDOA awareness and understanding.