CALL TO TEACH DRUG SAFETY

Young injecting drug users should be taught how to inject safely to reduce
their risk of exposure to hepatitis C, according to Curtin University's
National Drug Research Institute.

Research fellow Susan Carruthers said conventional approaches to preventing
the spread of the disease were not working and new innovative methods were
needed to stem the epidemic, which resulted in about 20,000 new infections
in Australia every year.

"We know that about 90 per cent of all new hepatitis C result from
injecting drug use," Dr Carruthers said.

"But what we have found is that many opportunities to prevent both initial
infection and subsequent transmission are currently being missed."

Dr Carruthers said about 50 per cent of all injecting drug users had
hepatitis C.

Of particular concern was a 50 per cent rise in notifications in the 15 to
24 year age group in the past five years.

"Most injecting drug users know about the risks associated with the sharing
of needles and syringes," Dr Carruthers said.

"But behaviours such as the sharing of other injecting equipment and the
giving and receiving of injections also increase the risk of exposre to
blood that would be infected with the hepatitis C virus."

Dr Carruthers said the key to minimising the spread of hepatitis C was to
educate young and new injecting drug users about safe injecting practices.

The NDRI had carried out several studies into reducing the spread of the
disease among injecting drug users and preliminary results were promising.

"In one study we focused on finding out whether young injectors could be
taught to reduce their risk of exposure by being shown how to inject
safely," Dr Carruthers said.

"In a second study, we investigated ways to educate injectors who were
already hepatitis-C positive about preventing further transmission of the
disease to others.

"What we have found in both studies was that by spending even a short
amount of time educating injecting drug users about risk management
strategies, we could have a very positive impact on injecting behaviour."

Associate Professsor Wendy Loxley said testing for blood-borne diseases at
drug treatment clinics should be viewed as an opportunity for education
intervention.

However, NDRI research found many people regarded testing as a screening
process only.

"Our research shows that many people choose to be tested just to reassure
themselves that they are still uninfected, so that they can carry on as
before," Associate Professor Loxley said. "If testing could be seen as an
opportunity to engage injecting drug users, to put them on the path to
further information and education about safe injecting practices to prevent
hepatitis C, then we might at least make a start in the battle against this
insidious disease."

The NDRI is involved in more research into the development of intervention
and education guidelines when testing injecting drug users for hepatitis C.