Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Sharing needles is associated with the spread of diseases including HIV. Current research shows that youth who are homeless are more likely to share needles. Unfortunately, most studies have focused on homeless youth and few have looked at whether youth who have been evicted are also more likely to share needles. In this study, we wanted to understand whether there was a relationship between eviction and sharing needles. This research is based on the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS) in Vancouver, Canada between June 2007 to May 2014. Street-involved youth between the ages of 14 - 26 who use hard drugs participate in the ARYS cohort. Logistic regression statistical techniques were used to measure the association between eviction and needle sharing among ARYS participants while adjusting for other factors. The results of this study are that there is an elevated level of needle sharing among youth who report being evicted. This provides two possible scenarios: the first is that youth are sharing needles and then being evicted, or the second is that youth are being evicted and then sharing needles. Either of these options points to the need for stable housing for youth in order prevent needle sharing and the spreading of HIV. High levels of needle sharing among the youth who report eviction are concerning. While needle sharing in adult population has decreased over time, research shows that youth still share needles at high levels. Here, we highlight the importance of access to housing options that meet youth where they are at in life. Additionally, housing supports - like case planning, social work, and cleaning support - should also be provided to prevent eviction among street-involved youth.