The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58018

Shiela M. Strauss, PhD¹, Janetta Astone, PhD¹, Don C. Des Jarlais², and Holly Hagan, PhD³. (1) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, (212) 845-4409, shiela.strauss@ndri.org, (2) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd. Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010, (3) Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, National Development and Research Institutes, 71 West 23rd, 8th floor, New York, NY 11215

The high prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) among drug users illuminates the importance of drug treatment programs as critical sites of opportunity for providing HCV antibody testing. Individuals who test HCV antibody positive can be counseled to limit their alcohol use, reduce risky transmission behaviors, and learn about options for treatment, while those who test negative can be educated about how to remain free of the virus. This paper compares the provision of HCV antibody testing in a sample of drug-free (N=120) and MMTPs (N=66) located throughout the country. All of these programs are participating in the NIDA-funded study, “STOP HEPC.” The data were obtained from responses to a telephone survey conducted with nurses or individuals most knowledgeable about infectious disease testing at these programs. A significantly greater proportion of MMTPs than drug-free programs currently offer HCV antibody testing to their patients (91% vs. 72%). Of the programs that offer testing, 74% of the MMTPs, but only 39% of the drug-free programs offer this testing to all patients. Only some of the patients offered HCV antibody testing were actually tested, however. For example, in programs that offer testing to all patients, 66% of the MMTP patients and 52% of the patients in drug-free treatment programs were tested for HCV antibodies. While more drug treatment programs need to be encouraged to offer HCV antibody testing to a greater proportion of patients, more patients in these programs also need to be encouraged to avail themselves of this critical health service.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to
• Discuss the high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among drug users, and the importance of drug treatment programs as critical sites of opportunity for testing for HCV antibodies.
• Describe differences between drug-free treatment programs and methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs) in the United States with regard to the current provision of hepatitis C (HCV) antibody testing, and the need to encourage more drug treatment programs to provide this testing to a greater proportion of their patients.
• Describe differences between drug-free treatment programs and MMTPs with regard to the proportion of patients actually tested for HCV antibodies, and the need to develop strategies so that more patients will agree to be tested.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.