Methamphetamine use and malnutrition among street-involved youth

Dan Werb,Ruth Zhang,Julio Sg Montaner,Evan Wood,Thomas Kerr

doi:10.1186/1477-7517-7-5

Dan Werb, Ruth Zhang + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7517-7-5

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Abstract

We sought to explore the effect of crystal methamphetamine use on the risk of experiencing malnutrition among street-involved youth in Vancouver, Canada. Risk of malnutrition was defined as being hungry but not having enough money to buy food. Socio-demographic and drug use factors associated with risk of malnutrition were investigated using univariate and multivariate analysis among a prospective cohort of street-involved youth known as the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS). Between September 2005 and December 2006, 509 street-involved youth were enrolled in ARYS, among whom 21% reported being at risk of malnutrition as defined above in the previous six months. In multivariate analysis, only non-injection crystal methamphetamine was significantly associated with being at risk of malnutrition among this cohort (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.60, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.03 - 2.48, p = 0.036). Interventions seeking to address food insecurity among street youth may benefit from considering drug use patterns since methamphetamine use predicted higher risk in this setting.

Highlights

We sought to explore the effect of crystal methamphetamine use on the risk of experiencing malnutrition among street-involved youth in Vancouver, Canada
Over the last decade, crystal methamphetamine use has emerged as a unique and significant public health concern, and data on the prevalence of crystal methamphetamine use have shown that its use is increasing in North America, among young gay men and young injection drug users [1,2]
Studies have reported that crystal methamphetamine use is associated with a variety of physiological and neurological disorders [3], as well as with a number of risk behaviours for HIV transmission, and that these risks are heightened among street-involved youth [2]

Summary

Introduction

We sought to explore the effect of crystal methamphetamine use on the risk of experiencing malnutrition among street-involved youth in Vancouver, Canada. We sought to explore the effect of crystal methamphetamine use on the risk of experiencing malnutrition among a cohort of street-involved youth in Vancouver, Canada.

Results

Conclusion