UK/Wales Fail on HCV Policy

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UK/Wales Fail on HCV Policy

“Drug policy 'failing' on virusesâ€

BBCnews

“Turning Point says half of drug users share needlesâ€

The Welsh Assembly Government's drug policy is failing to tackle the

rise in blood borne virus infections, a social care charity has

claimed.

Turning Point wants the assembly government to do more to stop the

spread of diseases like hepatitis C.

The group's research found an increase in infections had come from

changing patterns of injecting drug use.

The Welsh Assembly Government said it was in the process of compiling

an action plan to address issues.

Turning Point said at least 10,000 drug users in Wales have hepatitis

C, which can cause serious liver damage.

The charity said that 21 years after needle exchanges were

introduced, the government needs to take a fresh look at public

health and its drugs policy.

Steve Worobec from the organisation said: " There are not enough

places for people in Wales to get sterile supplies for things like

water, spoons and filters.

Cirrhosis

" Even 10 years ago, there was a lot more knowledge about how to

contract blood borne viruses.

" People remember the HIV messages of the 1980s but now think it's off

the agenda.

" They therefore assume that sharing equipment is OK again, and there

is a new generation of drug users who need educating in how to use

drugs safely. "

Turning Point also called for Hepatitis C and HIV testing and

treatments to be made more accessible for injecting drug users.

The hepatitis C virus can lead to complications including cirrhosis

of the liver.

Symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, nausea, flu-like symptoms,

problems concentrating, abdominal pain and jaundice.

Studies

Of the drug users who have Hepatitis C, less than a quarter have

accessed treatment on the NHS, Turning Point claims.

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said it was " aware of the

potential impact of blood borne viruses on intravenous drug users " .

" The Welsh Assembly Government has commissioned from the National

Public Health Service a number of important studies to assess the

impact, " he said.

" The National Public Health Service is compiling an action plan

addressing the issues identified. We would anticipate receiving the

action plan in the near future. "

“At the sharp endâ€: Injection of urgency needed on drug-related

viruses

“I got Hep C because all of us were using the same water

containers. I was gobsmacked. You can get cancer of the liver.â€

Intravenous drug user (audio available)

The government's drug policy in England and Wales is failing to

tackle the rise in Hepatitis and HIV infections. This is a major

public health issue as fifty per cent of injecting drug users have

Hepatitis C, and one in fifty have HIV.

New research from social care organisation, Turning Point, finds that

rates of blood borne viruses are increasing because of changing

patterns of injecting drug use. Turning Point claims that, twenty-one

years after needle exchanges were introduced, the government now

needs to take a fresh look at public health in this area of its drugs

policy.

Users are highly vulnerable to contracting these life-threatening

viruses because they are sharing needles and because they do not

always have all the right kit, like clean spoons, water and citric

acid (6).

“At the Sharp End†campaign research shows:

o Half of drug users share needles or other injecting equipment.

o Nearly one in five drug users surveyed were speedballing (injecting

a combination of heroin and crack) which is much more dangerous than

heroin alone and carries higher risks of catching infections.

o Drug users are taking more risks with their health by injecting

into the neck and groin.

o Many people are unable to get treatment for their condition. Of

those drug users who have Hepatitis C, less than a quarter have

accessed treatment.

o A liver transplant for those with Hepatitis C costs the NHS

£18,000 whereas a sterile cup costs 10p.

Turning Point Chief Executive, Lord Victor Adebowale, says: “The

much-heralded needle exchange programme of the 1980's has hit a 21st

century stumbling block. Twenty years ago, the government led the way

in offering needle exchanges, which meant a much lower level of HIV

than other countries. The recent emphasis has been on reducing drug-

related crime. The government needs to tackle the rise in blood

borne virus infections, by making public health the key focus of the

next drugs strategy.â€

Today Turning Point calls on the government to address these twenty-

first century issues by linking drugs policy to public health. The

social care organisation is also calling for Hepatitis C and HIV

testing and treatments to be made more accessible for injecting drug

users.

For further information please contact Steve Palmer in the Turning

Point press office on 020 7481 7639 or 07786 938 601.

Drug users miss out on hepatitis treatment

Posted: 09 December 2005

http://www.communitycare.co.uk

Ahmed

Drug users are not getting treatment for the Hepatitus C virus

because they are on “the bottom of the list†of health

professional's priorities, a leading expert said this week.

Professor Graham , professor of hepatology at Queen 's

University College, told the parliamentary group on drug misuse that

the virus was stigmatised as the “druggie's disease.â€

He warned that such attitudes would have “severe repercussionsâ€

for the next decade if people failed to get treatment.

There are currently around 300,000 cases of the virus, but

called this a “conservative†estimate.

He said: “If we continue at this rate, we will see a dramatic rise

in end-stage liver disease.â€

said clearer guidance was needed from the department of health

to make Hepatitus C treatment a priority.

Campaigners also expressed concern over the lack of treatment for the

virus in prisons, and group chair Iddon MP said he would raise

the issue with health minister Caroline Flint and home office

minister Fiona McTaggart.

UK drugs policy not working, says report

18 April 2007

Ahmed

Government drug policy is having a “minimal impact†on the use of

illegal drugs in the UK, a report says today.

The report by the UK Drugs Policy Commission, a new independent

organisation, says that education and prevention schemes for young

people are among those that have failed to stem the rise in drug use

over the last decade.

It finds there is “little consistent or reliable evidence†to

show that drug education and prevention schemes have brought about

less drug use or to show the effectiveness of enforcement measures

such as lengthy prison sentences for drug users.

Despite increased investment in treatment, the majority of government

spending on responding to illegal drugs is still devoted to enforcing

drug laws, while reporting government expenditure on drugs policy is

“difficult†because of a lack of transparency, according to the

report.

The UK has the second-highest rate of drug-related deaths in Europe,

with 1,644 deaths occurring in 2005, according to figures cited in

the report. It also has double the rates of dependent or problematic

drug use compared other European countries.

The UK Drugs Policy Commission, launched today, said it aimed to

provide an “objective†analysis of issues related to drug policy

in the UK.

Chair Dame Ruth Runciman said: “The Commission does not start from

the position that all UK drug policy has failed, but rather that we

do not know enough about which elements of policy work, why they work

and where they work well.â€