NCJ Number
199483
Date Published
October 2002
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This document discusses viral hepatitis and the impact on injection drug users (IDUs).
Abstract
The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Injection drug use is the major risk factor for hepatitis C (HCV) infection. About 3.9 million Americans have been infected with HCV and 2.7 million have chronic HCV infection. HCV disproportionately affects people of color. These numbers do not include infections in prisoners or the homeless. Most new infections occur among young adults 20 to 39 years old. High-risk sexual behaviors and injection drug use are the major risk factors of hepatitis B (HBV). About 5 percent of Americans have evidence of past infection with HBV and approximately 1.25 million people have chronic HBV infection. Hepatitis A occurs in overcrowded areas where poor sanitary conditions exist. Outbreaks of hepatitis A also have been reported among IDUs. The medical and health care costs of viral hepatitis are high. Symptoms of newly acquired infection are mild or nonexistent, so people may not even be diagnosed. Because HBV and HCV are transmitted through exposure to infected blood and body fluids, IDUs are at very high risk of acquiring and transmitting both viruses. Other circumstances, such as liver damage due to alcohol use and co-infection with HIV, contribute to the heavy impact of viral hepatitis on IDUs. Awareness of viral hepatitis as an important public health issue is growing. Agencies and providers must address prevention, transmission, treatment, capacity, and education issues. The National Hepatitis C Prevention Strategy is aimed at lowering the incidence of acute HCV infections and reducing the disease burden from chronic hepatitis C. The principle components of this strategy are education of health care professionals, public education, monitoring of trends, and research.