Mothers Who Use Drugs: Closing the Gaps in Harm Reduction Response Amidst the Dual Epidemics of Overdose and Violence in a Canadian Urban Setting

This study aims to identify key gaps in overdose prevention interventions for mothers who use drugs and the paradoxical impact of institutional practices that can increase overdose risk in the context of punitive drug policies and a toxic drug supply. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 women accessing 2 women-only, low-barrier supervised consumption sites in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, between 2017 and 2019. Our analysis drew on intersectional understandings of structural, everyday, and symbolic violence.

Citation: Jade Boyd, Lisa Maher, Tamar Austin, Jennifer Lavalley, Thomas Kerr, Ryan McNeil, “Mothers Who Use Drugs: Closing the Gaps in Harm Reduction Response Amidst the Dual Epidemics of Overdose and Violence in a Canadian Urban Setting”, American Journal of Public Health 112, no. S2 (April 1, 2022): pp. S191-S198.