Anh Khoa Vo

Fatal overdose has emerged as a leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLWH) in British Columbia. One key, under‑recognized driver is chronic pain. When pain remains inadequately managed, it not only erodes quality of life and disrupts adherence to antiretroviral therapy but can also push individuals toward unregulated substances for relief.

An HIV‐positive individual facing unmanaged pain may be more likely to seek illicit substances (e.g., opioids, stimulants), thereby increasing the risk of fatal overdose. Yet health systems to date have failed to integrate comprehensive pain management into overdose prevention efforts tailored to PLWH.

My research addresses this gap by quantifying how under‑treated chronic pain fuels substance use and precipitates fatal overdose, especially in racialized populations facing compounded barriers.