Changes in illicit opioid use across Canada
Canadian Medical Association JournalPublished 20 November 2006Open access
Benedikt Fischer, Jürgen Rehm, Jayadeep Patra, Michelle Firestone Cruz
Citations145
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score0.92
SNIP1.00
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TL;DR
There are an estimated 125 000 injection drug users in Canada, most of whom use heroin and cocaine, and heroin addiction is associated with a variety of conditions.
Abstract
For almost a century, heroin addiction has been a core element of the illicit drug use problem in Canada.[1][1],[2][2] According to recent data, there are an estimated 125 000 injection drug users in Canada, most of whom use heroin and cocaine.[3][3] Heroin addiction is associated with a variety of
Keywords
MedicinePharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
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