Janetta Astone, PhD¹, Shiela M. Strauss, PhD¹, Don DesJarlais, PhD², and Holly Hagan, PhD¹. (1) NDRI, 71 West 23rd Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 11561, 212 845 4407, astone@ndri.org, (2) Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, First Avenue at16th Street, New York City, NY 10003

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most frequently transmitted bloodborne infection in the U.S. with approximately 4 million people infected. HCV is most prevalent among drug users and drug treatment programs are uniquely situated to provide HCV related services for this population. We examine the extent to which a nationwide sample of U.S. drug treatment programs provided services for their HCV+ patients in the year 2001. Of the 256 programs in the study sample, 91% (N=232) had at least one HCV+ patient. In all, 84% (N=195) of these 232 programs provided medical care or other support for an average of 58% of their HCV+ patients. This support included for example, case management for HCV and follow-up testing to monitor the progression of the disease (provided by 58% and 75% of the programs, respectively). There were some differences between methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs) and drug free programs in terms of services provided to HCV+ patients. For example, significantly more MMTPs than drug free programs provided HCV-related counseling (83% vs. 65%; p<.01), provided HCV support groups (41% vs. 26%; p<.03), and made referrals to physicians off-site (94% vs. 84%; p<.04). Among the programs providing support for HCV+ patients, however, a significantly smaller proportion of patients in MMTPs than drug free programs received services for their HCV infection (52% vs. 64%; p<.04). Overall, more attention and resources need to be provided to assist HCV+ drug treatment program patients to maintain their health to the greatest extent possible.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, thh participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize the impact that hepatitis C (HCV) has on substance abusers.
• Describe the range of hepatitis C services delivered by drug treatment programs to their HCV positive clients.
• Discuss differences betweem methtadone maintenance treatment programs' and drug free treatment programs' delivery of hepatitis C services for their HCV postive patients.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Substance Abuse

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.