@article{Mehta_Moustaqim-Barrette_Papamihali_Xavier_Graham_Williams_Buxton_2021, title={Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act awareness among people who use drugs in British Columbia, Canada: This article is related directly to the 6th International Law Enforcement & Public Health (LEPH) Virtual Conference in March 2021.}, volume={6}, url={https://www.journalcswb.ca/index.php/cswb/article/view/197}, DOI={10.35502/jcswb.197}, abstractNote={<p><em>Introduction</em>: To address the increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths in Canada the <em>Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (GSDOA)</em> was enacted in May 2017. The <em>GSDOA</em> aims to reduce concerns of police attending overdose events and encourage bystanders to call emergency services. This study explores <em>GSDOA</em> awareness and understanding and the factors associated with <em>GSDOA</em> awareness among people who use drugs (PWUD).</p> <p><em>Methods</em>: A cross-sectional drug and harm reduction service use survey containing <em>GSDOA</em>-specific questions was<br>conducted from October to December 2019 at 22 harm reduction supply distribution sites across British Columbia.<br>Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to assess correlates of <em>GSDOA</em> awareness.</p> <p><em>Results</em>: Overall, 54.2% (n = 315) of the eligible study sample (n = 581) reported being aware of the <em>GSDOA</em>. Of respondents reporting awareness, 45.2% and 61.3%, respectively, had a full understanding of when and to whom the <em>GSDOA</em> provides legal protection. In the multivariable model, <em>GSDOA</em> awareness was significantly associated with respondents identifying as cis-men (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.03 [95% CI: 1.30–3.19]); and those who obtained harm reduction supplies frequently (at least a few times/week) compared with those who did not obtain supplies or obtained them less frequently (AOR = 1.78 [95% CI: 1.14–2.76]).</p> <p><em>Conclusion</em>: More than 2 years after its introduction, approximately half of harm reduction site clients reported being aware of the <em>GSDOA</em>, and, of these, less than two-thirds had a complete understanding of who is legally protected by the <em>GSDOA</em>. Future <em>GSDOA</em> knowledge dissemination should target PWUD who are less engaged with harm reduction services to improve <em>GSDOA</em> awareness and understanding.</p>}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being}, author={Mehta, Amiti and Moustaqim-Barrette, Amina and Papamihali, Kristi and Xavier, Jessica and Graham, Brittany and Williams, Sierra and Buxton, Jane A.}, year={2021}, month={Sep.}, pages={133–141} }