“I Know So Many Women That Have the Same Story as Mine”: Exploring How the Increase of Benzodiazepines in the Unregulated Drug Supply Shapes Experiences of Gender-Based Violence Among Women and Gender Minorities in Vancouver, BC

Background Benzodiazepines have become increasingly prevalent in the unregulated drug supply in Canada. Benzodiazepines are regularly prescribed as anxiety or sleep aids, and typically have strong sedative effects. Despite the influx of benzodiazepines in the unregulated drug supply, the gendered impacts of this change have not been evaluated. To address this gap, our aim was to explore how the increase of benzodiazepines in the unregulated drug supply shaped experiences of gender-based violence (GBV) among women and gender minorities who experience intersecting modes of criminalization in Vancouver, Canada. Methods This analysis draws on 30 in-depth semi-structured interviews with criminalized women and gender minorities between 2022 and 2023. Using a structural violence framework, this analysis seeks to characterize the intersecting and gendered impacts of increased benzodiazepines in the unregulated drug supply. Results In addition to the desired effects of benzodiazepines, some participants also described experiencing drowsiness, confusion, and memory loss due to benzodiazepine exposure, heightening both experiences and fear of gender-based violence (GBV). Participants’ narratives highlight that, despite instituting safety strategies and fostering positive community connections, many felt vulnerable to GBV while either unintentionally using benzodizepines or unknowingly purchasing high potency benzodiazepines, increasing risk of GBV (assault, exploitation, theft) in the context of broader misogony and gender subordination. The fear of being victimized led some participants to use alone, which in turn increased the potential for fatal overdose. Conclusion This research demonstrates the gendered impacts of prohibition, highlighting how the influx of benzodiazepines shaped participants’ experiences of GBV. Our findings underline the importance of a safe, accessible, and regulated drug supply alongside sustained efforts towards gender equity more broadly to better support the safety of criminalized women and gender minorities.