Testing for Sexually Transmitted and Bloodborne Infections in Substance Users: Insights from the 2023 British Columbia Harm Reduction Client Survey - Takeaways - MDSpire

Testing for Sexually Transmitted and Bloodborne Infections in Substance Users: Insights from the 2023 British Columbia Harm Reduction Client Survey

  • By

  • Amrit Tiwana

  • Katherine A. Twohig

  • Mieke Fraser

  • Brooke Kinniburgh

  • Charlene Burmeister

  • Paul Choisil

  • Elizabeth Haywood

  • Dylan Griffith

  • Chloé G. Xavier

  • Alannah Hannigan

  • Kate Salters

  • Sofia R. Bartlett

  • February 23, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    STBBIs, including HIV and HCV, pose significant health risks, particularly among people who use substances (PWUS), contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates.

  • 2

    The prevalence of STBBIs among PWUS is disproportionately high, with global HIV rates in this group being seven times greater than in the general population.

  • 3

    Barriers to STBBI testing for PWUS include stigma, discrimination, and limited healthcare access, which hinder early detection and treatment.

  • 4

    Community-based harm reduction services, such as supervised consumption sites, effectively support PWUS and can enhance access to STBBI testing.

  • 5

    The 2023 BC Harm Reduction Client Survey aims to identify factors influencing STBBI testing among PWUS to inform targeted interventions and improve health outcomes.

Original Source(s)

Testing for Sexually Transmitted and Bloodborne Infections in Substance Users: Insights from the 2023 British Columbia Harm Reduction Client Survey

  • by Amrit Tiwana, Katherine A. Twohig, Mieke Fraser, Brooke Kinniburgh, Charlene Burmeister, Paul Choisil, Elizabeth Haywood, Dylan Griffith, Chloé G. Xavier, Alannah Hannigan, Kate Salters, Sofia R. Bartlett

  • February 23, 2026

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