Back to: HIV Stigma Workshop Kit
Some people are more in harm’s way of HIV, other STBBIs, and therefore stigma. Many different groups of people, due to condition & circumstance need to be paid attention to for reducing stigma and providing care.
Focus populations are groups that experience a disproportionate burden of HIV due to the intersection of biological risks, social marginalization, and systemic barriers that limit their access to prevention and care.
Factors of focus for people who use drugs:
In British Columbia’s smaller urban, rural, and remote areas (SURR areas), stigma is one of the greatest barriers to HIV prevention, care, and treatment; especially for people who use drugs. Evidence suggests that people who inject drugs face greater risk of HIV compared to those who have never injected, which makes harm reduction that includes reducing stigma an essential approach for protection, care, and support. Key considerations for people who drugs:
CLICK HERE to read more about key HIV and stigma considerations for people who drugs
- Polysubstance use combined with impaired immunity can worsen physical health outcomes from STBBIs. Prevention, testing, and treatment for HIV and other STBBIs become evidently important.
- Some people who use drugs might feel more judged by living with HIV compared to solely identifying as a PWUD. Fear of being judged inhibits access to harm reduction care.
- Some people might experience intersectional stigma by being unfairly judged for both HIV and drug use; one form of stigma compounding on the other.
- Overlapping conditions: Co-infections between HIV, hepatitis C, and other STBBIs are common and can complicate care. Regular testing, getting linked to care, consistent treatment, and/or ongoing care can help reduce the harms of co-infection.
- Harm reduction services such as needle and syringe programs, supervised consumption services, safe supply, and vaccination programs are critical to preventing transmission of HIV and other STBBIs.
EXPLORE MORE
Stigma around drug use (Government of Canada)
Harm Reduction Partner Information – Focuses on youth (Interior Health)
Foundry Virtual BC (Foundry)
The You Matter Project (Action Hepatitis Canada) – Pathways to care for STBBIs. A guideline and policy recommendations for STBBI testing and linkage to care in British Columbia provincial correctional settings.
Indigenous Harm Reduction = Reducing the Harms of Colonialism (CAAN/ICAD)
HIV and STI testing among Indigenous women and women who inject drugs (OHTN)