Differences between co-users of cocaine and crack among Canadian illicit opioid users

Objectives: Differences between cocaine and crack co-users at baseline in a cohort of illicit opioid users in five Canadian cities ("OPICAN") were explored. Methods: Cohort subjects were recruited by snowball methods, and assessed through a standardised protocol. Drug-use prevalence rates and bivariate correlations between selected indicators and the two subgroups were assessed. Results: Cocaine and crack co-use were prevalent in the study cohort (55 % each). Crack co-users were primarily characterised by socio-economic marginalization, whereas cocaine co-users presented a higher prevalence of depression. Conclusions: Canadian opioid users cousing crack or cocaine represent distinct sub-cultures with specific risk factors. Some selective implications for interventions are discussed.