Pubdate: Fri, 12 Jul 2013
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Danielle Bell

DRUG USE UNDER 'SCOPE

Researchers hit the streets to interview addicts

A research team has quietly taken to the streets to survey Ottawa drug users.

It's part of an effort, by Participatory Research in Ottawa 
Understanding Drugs, to create a profile of the situation in the capital.

Volunteers are reaching out to hard drug users in the most vulnerable 
situations, many of whom regularly use IV drugs.

Over the past several months, they've interviewed more than 400 
addicts on a range of topics, including drug use, homelessness, 
education and supervised injection sites.

"We want to do it because people are dying," said Richard Sproule, a 
group member. "A lot of the people are in very dangerous situations."

The group hopes to interview as many as 1,500 drug users in the first 
initiative of its kind.

They hope the hands-on research project will paint an accurate 
portrayal of the situation in the city, which they say is likely 
underestimated.

Participants are also offered rapid HIV testing.

The specially designed questionnaire was developed with the help of 
recovering addicts.

The data, which will take months more to collect, will then be 
analyzed and brought to the attention of medical health officials.

"Ottawa has really lagged behind in harm reduction," said Sproule, a 
recovering addict. "We're fighting against that."

Some of the drug users have been approached on the streets, while 
others are known to use shelters.

Each drug user surveyed is paid a $20 honorarium for two hours of their time.

It means the organizers have paid out about $8,000 so far, from money 
that comes from fundraising, grants and private donations.

A screening process includes the use of code numbers for participants 
to ensure no one doubles up.

Early data suggests the majority (81%) of participants think there 
should be a supervised injection site in Ottawa, with 68% of those 
who've injected in the past year saying they'd turn to one.

Fentanyl is also a popular high on the street, the numbers suggest, 
with nearly 40% who've injected the powerful patches.

The potent painkiller has been a growing concern for Ottawa police.

A recent prescription drug seizure here that turned up Fentanyl was 
believed to be connected to drug-trafficking in Manotick, a community 
that drew a heightened awareness to the drug after a suspected 
overdose death of a teen there last year.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom