Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2012
Source: Metro (Vancouver, CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Metro Canada
Contact: http://www.metronews.ca/Vancouver/comment/lettereditor
Website: http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Matt Kieltyka
Cited: http://www.cfenet.ubc.ca/

ALARMING ADDICTION RATES AMONG STREET YOUTH

While health authorities celebrate a decline in overall drug use among
adults, researchers warn one demographic is being ignored.

According to the latest study from the B.C. Centre for Excellence in
HIV/AIDS, there is an "alarming progression" from drug experimentation
to addiction among street-involved youth.

Researchers followed 338 street-involved youth - between the ages of
15 and 25 - over five years and found 74 per cent of them became
regular injection drug users after shooting up for the first time.

"We were very surprised, especially since we're seeing a significant
decline in adult injection drug users," said Dr. Kora DeBeck, lead
author of the study.

The high rate puts youth at risk of HIV and interferes with
development, education, integration into society and could lead to
homelessness, the study argues.

DeBeck said more effort needs to be done to link street-involved youth
with treatment and early intervention programs.

The study found that young females are more at risk of becoming
regular injection users after trying a drug, 81 per cent, than males,
at 71 per cent.

The study will be presented at the International AIDS Conference in
Washington, D.C. July 26.
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MAP posted-by: Matt