Gaps in the drug-free and methadone treatment program response to Hepatitis C

Increasing Hepatitis C Knowledge Among Homeless Adults: Results of a Community-Based, Interdisciplinary Intervention

“…16,73 Most programs focus on risk factor identification and risk behavior modification, without incorporating counseling and treatment for more complex psychosocial factors and high risk behaviors. 14,15 Interestingly, methadone maintenance programs are more likely than drug-free programs to provide participants with information about HCV infection.…”

“…Despite implementation, barriers to health care access, such as lack of transportation, child care issues, work schedule inflexibility, limited health care facility hours, lack of respect or discrimination from clinic personnel, and continued involvement in substance abuse prevent homeless adults from accessing and benefiting from HCV education programs. 12,13 Although HCV education is often provided within drug abuse treatment programs, 14,15 participants often fail to take advantage of such education 16 or consider issues related to income, housing, and non-HCV-related health care as more important. 17,18 Despite accessibility to substance abuse programs and specialty care for HCV, knowledge of HCV among IDUs in both general and homeless adult populations remains low.…”

“…[27][28][29] Among a nationwide sample of 595 drug abuse treatment programs, only 50 % provided HCV education to participants, and the education provided consisted primarily of risk factor identification and behavior modification. 14,15 As a result, novel, comprehensive, community-based intervention programs accessible to homeless individuals, like the Nurse Case Managed Intervention from the current study, are being developed that target the complex and multidimensional factors linking homelessness to HCV infection, focusing on problem solving skills and strategies to remain uninfected, rather than on risk factor identification.…”

Drug treatment clients' readiness for hepatitis C treatment: implications for expanding treatment services in drug and alcohol settings

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] There is a growing evidence base describing factors associated with successful hepatitis C treatment in these settings. 8,9 Drug treatment staff have been described as well placed to identify clients' special needs and advocate for client services, 10 including hepatitis C treatment.…”

Hepatitis C infection and injection drug use: The role of hepatologists in evolving treatment efforts

“…Fully integrating HCV care and treatment can occur in an HIV setting 28 or a substance abuse treatment program, such as that of methadone maintenance. 30 In the latter settings, support services are provided by nonhepatologists who would greatly benefit from the participation of those experienced in treating liver disease. As HCV infection becomes accepted as a primary care issue in the context of HIV and substance-abuse management, hepatologists can support the process of integrative management by becoming more knowledgeable about opioid addiction and the use of buprenorphine treatment.…”