The Cedar Project*: Historical Trauma and Vulnerability to Sexual Assault Among Young Aboriginal Women Who Use Illicit Drugs in Two Canadian Cities. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pearce, Margo E.; Blair, Alden H.; Teegee, Mary; Pan, Stephen W.; Thomas, Vicky; Zhang, Hongbin; Schechter, Martin T.; Spittal, Patricia M.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 21:Number 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 313
• Page End: 329
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: drug use -- sexual assault -- young Aboriginal women; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801214568356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

This study explored trends of sexual assault and associated risk factors within a cohort of young Aboriginal women who used drugs in Vancouver and Prince George, Canada, between 2003 and 2010. Results demonstrated no change in the trend of sexual assault over time; however, odds of sexual assault were significantly higher for women who had at least one parent who attended residential school, had experienced childhood sexual abuse, were involved in sex work, had been offered money to not use condoms, had used injection drugs, had injected cocaine and opiates daily, had binged with injection drugs, and had difficulty accessing clean syringes. Findings highlight the urgency of interventions addressing the complexity of risk and opportunities for healing.