OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of alcohol use and hepatitis C among young injection drug users (IDUs) in Los Angeles. METHODS: 390 young and recent initiates to injection drug use were interviewed using a face-to-face risk survey, and tested for hepatitis C at two street-recruitment locations in Los Angeles from 1997-1999. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of alcohol use and HCV infection in this population. Self-reported risk behavioral data regarding IDU were also obtained. RESULTS: 61% of the sample were male, 71% were under the age of 25 years, 59% were white, 11% were Latino, 5% were African-American, 2% were Asian, 3% were Native American, and 20% reported "other" or "mixed" race-ethnicity. Overall hepatitis C prevalence was 23% (65/279). 24% of the sample reported alcohol use on a daily basis. The median number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week was 5. The median age at which participants started to drink alcohol was 13 years. CONCLUSIONS: Both alcohol use and hepatitis C are prevalent in this group of young and recent initiates to IDU. Programs which screen for hepatitis C among young IDUs should also screen for alcohol use and include interventions to reinforce cessation of alcohol to prevent secondary complications of hepatitis C. The potential relationship between alcohol consumption and high risk injection behavior for hepatitis C needs further study, and may have implications for prevention of primary transmission as well.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation the audience will be able to identify HCV risk behaviors among young injection drug users
Keywords: Injection Drug Users, Hepatitis C
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.