ID: HR19-894

Presenting author: Richard Cloutier

Presenting author biography:

Master degree in nursing. Planning officer at the Ministry of Health and Social services of Québec for the coordination of prevention of HIV/HCV and opioid overdoses. He has been a consultant for World Health Organisation and the United Nation Development Program.

Evolution of population perceptions on drug users and harm reduction services in the province of Quebec (Canada)

Richard Cloutier, Ève Dubé, Denis Hamel, Maryline Vivion

Background
In the context of drug prohibition, implementing harm reduction measures are often a challenge because of social acceptability requirements. The openings of 4 supervised injection services in Montreal in 2017 and one that is planned in Quebec City in 2019 have generated critics and contestation in the population. The aim of our study is to evaluate the perception in Quebec’s population of drug users and harm-reduction services and to measure its evolution since 2001.

Methodology
Two population-based telephone surveys were conducted in 2001 and 2009 and a survey using mixed approach (Web-based and telephone) will be conducted in January 2019. Participants are aged over 18 years-old and live in urban and semi-urban areas of the province of Quebec. In all surveys, some items were repeated (reason of drug use, drug knowledge, etc.) and new items were developed to reflect changes in context. The questionnaire is informed by the social acceptance framework.

Results
A total of 2253 interviews were completed in 2001, 1002 in 2009, and 5000 are planned for 2019. Study in 2001 revealed that drug use was perceived by most participants as an individual responsibility rather the result of a social situation (e.g. poverty, etc.). For example, drug users were perceived as lacking will (61%) and this perception was associated with lower acceptability of harm reduction measures. However, 2009 results indicated that perceptions were changing as most participants were in favour of harm reduction measure such as needle-exchange programs (54% in 2009 versus 34% in 2001).

Conclusion
As social acceptability of harm reduction measures depends mainly on the perception the population has of drug users, this is reassuring to see that mentalities have evolved. Results of the 2019 survey will inform if the perception has changed and issue that will need to be addressed to ensure their success.