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Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to make informed decisions regarding local needs, opportunities and strategies for HCV prevention among young injection drug users (IDUs).
Background:
Older populations of IDUs often show levels of HCV infection from 70%-90%. A key for prevention opportunities is how quickly infection follows the initiation of injection. Rapid infection, as indicated in some research, argues against targeting new IDUs. This analysis uses recent data from two studies of young IDUs to assess the onset of HCV infection.
Methods:
Survey and serological data from IDUs 15-30 years old in metropolitan Chicago were examined from two CDC-funded studies, CIDUS-II (1997-1999, n=698) and CIDUS-III/DUIT (2002-2004 n=796). Similar methods were used in both studies to recruit community-based samples of IDUs, examine risk behaviors, and determine HCV serostatus.
Results:
Of the 1494 participants, median age was 23 years, 49% resided in suburbs, and 68% had injected less than 4 years. Recent receptive syringe sharing was reported by 50% of participants, and 72% shared some form of injection equipment. Over one-third of CIDUS-II participants reported being initiated into injection by someone five or more years older. HCV prevalence was 20% and increased with age and duration of injection.
Conclusions:
Considerable opportunity for primary intervention with young, new IDUs is indicated by the large numbers we accessed who were not yet infected with HCV. Secondary intervention should also target older, more likely infected IDUs as evidenced by this population's interaction with new IDUs. Interventions should emphasize the potential role of older IDUs in preventing infection among the new IDUs with whom they associate.
See more of J3 - The Changing Role of Syringe Exchange Programs in Response to Prevention of Hepatitis
See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference