This article applies methods of latent class analysis (LCA) to data on lifetime illicit drug use in order to determine whether qualitatively distinct classes of illicit drug users can be identified. Self-report data on lifetime illicit drug use (cannabis, stimulants, hallucinogens, sedatives, inhalants, cocaine, opioids and solvents) collected from a sample of 6265 Australian twins (average age...

Illicit drug users are commonly infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We evaluated the prevalence, incidence, and risk behaviors associated with HCV infection in 1,859 drug users in northern Thailand. The HCV prevalence was 27.3%: 86.0% among drug injectors (IDUs) and 5.3% among those who did not inject. Sexual behavior was not significantly associated wi...

Starting in 2007, a 2-year study based on ethnographic methodology was carried out downtown Montréal, Canada. A thematic analysis of observational and interview-based notes was conducted. Illicit prescription opioid (PO) use was widespread among street-based participants. Injection was the main mode of PO administration observed among users. Some injection practices such as "doing a wash" could...

Through both scientific evaluation (1), and the wisdom of experience (2), Western nations have learned that illicit drug markets are notoriously difficult to control from the supply side. A recent World Customs Organization report found that even post-September 11 security measures have had a ‘‘negligible’’ impact on the influx of illicit drugs into the United States (3). In Canada, we recently...

Among a large group of users of illicit intravenous drugs, the incidence of bullous pulmonary damage was noted to be 2 percent (6/387). Bullous damage was significantly different in the drug users than in those who did not use drugs. The drug users were significantly younger than the nonusers, their bullae were large and confined to the upper lobes, and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency was very u...

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent in illicit drug user populations, with three in four new HCV infections related to this risk behaviour and a growing HCV disease burden in Canada. Using data from a multi-site cohort study of illicit opioid users in five Canadian cities (OPICAN), this paper explores the prevalence and predictors of HCV status in this high-risk pop...

AIMS In field studies assessing cognitive function in illicit ecstasy users, there are several frequent confounding factors that might plausibly bias the findings toward an overestimate of ecstasy-induced neurocognitive toxicity. We designed an investigation seeking to minimize these possible sources of bias. DESIGN We compared illicit ecstasy users and non-users while (1) excluding individua...

Aims In field studies assessing cognitive function in illicit ecstasy users, there are several frequent confounding factors that might plausibly bias the findings toward an overestimate of ecstasy-induced neurocognitive toxicity. We designed an investigation seeking to minimize these possible sources of bias. Design We compared illicit ecstasy users and non-users while (1) excluding individuals...

BACKGROUND Illicit drug use (DU) and hazardous drinking (HD) among marginalized populations may be associated with greater barriers to care. METHODS We used baseline data on the participants of the Seek, Test, Treat, and Retain data harmonization initiative. DU includes use of any illicit drugs within the past 6 months. HD was defined as scores ≥8 for men and ≥ 7 for women on Alcohol Use Diso...