New Daa Therapy : A Key Strategy For Achieving Global Risk Control

Harm reduction can be defined as an approach that aims to reduce the consequences of high risk behaviours such as injection drug use on the individual and on society as a whole. Harm reduction programs provide injection drug users with access to a clean injection environment, sterile injections, drug-preparation equipment and safe disposal of contaminated material at the time of injection. Staff members in harm reduction facilities provide health teaching, anonymous HIV testing, information on addiction treatment, condoms and assist in connecting clients to social and health services (Semaan et al., 2011; Ball, 2007). Although, the benefits of harm reduction are evident through reduction of accidental drug overdose and prevention of

Heroin, methamphetamine, and opioids have been around for centuries and the use of these drugs is not a new phenomenon. The use of injection drugs causes individual’s serious harm and have placed large expenses on the health care system. “Heroin, cocaine and other drugs kill around 0.2 million people each year, shattering families and bringing misery to thousands of other people” (United Nations iii); Because of-these incidents harm reduction strategies have been put in place to create a safer and more educated population, but it has only been a start. ‘Safe injection sites’ has become a well talked about term in the last decade. The term itself refers to a physical place

Needle exchange programs have long been a controversial subject with both the general population and government lawmakers. The primary objective for needle exchange programs (NEPs) is to prevent the spread of blood-borne disease and is very successful in doing so. But, issues of morality due to the perception of drug enablement and the stigma of intravenous drug users (IDUs) and their potential effects on the decline of society are continually used as arguments for those against NEPs. It has been proven through many studies that these programs not only reduce harms associated with intravenous drug use, they are also cost effective and reduce the circulation of used syringes to the general population. Beyond epidemiological efforts, NEPs also provide a de-stigmatized center for gathering and offers health services such as HIV testing, counselling and referrals to treatment for drug addiction. This paper aims to highlight the efficacy of needle exchange programs, safe injection sites and address the social and political issues associated with them.

II. Main Point: The most recent approach for a new treatment was approved by the F.D.A. this year.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is from the virus family Flaviviridae with an RNA envelope serving as it's genetic material. The genetic material (RNA) is HCV's pathogenic structure. The genome is positive sense single stranded RNA, which is very similar to mRNA and can be translated quickly to the host cell (Bauman 2012). Hepatitis C is an enveloped virus, and the RNA also lacks a proofreading ability after replication, which results in mutations coding for many genotypes within the host. This genetic variability makes it difficult for the host immune system to clear all the HCV infections. As one infection clears, another strain is being produced (Bauman 2012). The HCV antibody detected by ELISA(Wilkinson

Harm reduction is a non-judgmental and practical approach to prevent HIV/HCV seroconversions, overdose, death, and decrease adverse effects on self and community (NPNU Initiative, 2007). Successful prison harm reduction programs frequently include pharmacotherapy, which plays a key role in helping with withdrawal symptoms and relapse prevention. Numerous studies on the effectiveness of opioid maintenance treatments (OMT) such as methadone, buprenorphine, levo-alpha acetyl methadol (LAAM) and buprenorphine-naloxone have proven that the benefits of OMT pre-release are similar to community treatment (Hedrich et al. 2012). A substantial reduction in prison drug use was shown on studies reporting illicit opioid use, and the studies that compared OMT to no OMT during incarceration shown impressively large differences (Hedrich et al. 2012). The studies which reported drug injection activity found a considerable reduction in injecting and syringe sharing (Hedrich et al, 2012). An Australian OMT study measuring HIV/HCV seroconversion resulted in no HIV seroconversions during incarceration, with both the control group and treatment groups having a high HCV risk dominance with equivalent seroconversions in both groups. Dolan et al. (1998, 1996) determined a reduction in risk behaviors for continuous high dose (>60mg.) therapy versus limited low dose therapy. A 2001 Canadian study measuring inmate transgressions reported drug violations in prison shrank in the OMT group, while it amplified in the control group (Hedrich et al.

The increasing number of citizens that are testing positive for Hepatitis C is shocking and the epidemic is just getting worse. One out of every one hundred people in the general population has Hepatitis C, but the ratio is higher in prisons. One out of every six inmates has Hepatitis C (Wegner, Rottnek, Parker and Crippin, 2014). Hepatitis C (HCV) is a blood disease that is caused by a virus and it affects the liver. Unfortunately there is no vaccine to prevent this disease and I have seen first-hand how ugly this virus is. I have worked in the medical field for the past 6 years and I have a very close friend who contracted HCV. Unfortunately, she was one of the many people that needed a liver transplant. HCV has infected four times as

Purpose: The purpose of the article was to address one of the interventions in Hepatitis C treatment and the temporal aspect of it in particular. The authors use a question to begin the article which makes it easy for the reader to find the purpose of the article and later the issue which would be preceding it. Within the purpose, the authors also identify their audience being the patients living with Hepatitis C virus, the insurance companies, and the health departments. Identifying the stakeholders is effective in targeting the message to the appropriate population and further adds clarity to the issue since it would be relatable to the authors of the article as well as their audience.

The needle and syringe program is a social service that allows IDUs to obtain hypodermic needles and associated paraphernalia at little or no cost. This program allow addicts to confidently exchange dirty needles and syringes for clean needles as well as allowing the contaminated materials to be sent away for proper disposal. Acceptance of this program around the world has been variable; some accepting it as a tool to reduce the infections of blood borne diseases among IDUs; while others like the US have been unwilling participants.

In general, a patient is infected with only one hepatitis C virus genotype. The strain of genotypes is not differentiated by the severity of the disease. However, there will make a distinction in the regimen and the duration of the treatment (CDC, 2016). Treatment for chronic HCV is based on guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Associations for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). The criteria of who should receive the treatment include how much the virus in the body, the strain of hepatitis C, the degree of liver inflammation or damage, comorbidity, and response to previous treatment (Infectious Diseases Society of America [IDSA], 2016). The highest priority for treatment should give to a patient with advanced fibrosis and compensated cirrhosis (IDSA, 2016). Moreover, treatment priority should provide to the patient who has a high risk of transmitting the disease from and to others, such as individuals who are active injection drug users and hemodialysis patients (IDSA, 2016).

The drug we are testing in this research is called gatifloxacin (Zymar) and dexamethasone 0.1% (Maxidex). Maxidex is usually given or being combined after patiens use Zymar for 2-3 weeks. This second research is called a "phase 2" trial.

tution typically emerges when HCV genotype 1a is exposed to telaprevir.[8] Only one nucleotide change is required for the 1a subtype to develop resistance whereas two nucleotide changes must occur in genotype 1b.[10] This is not specific to PI use and has been described with other drug classes, for example, nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitors.[10] As a result, antiviral responses can vary between HCV genotype 1 subtypes during treatment with DAAs, while response was similar when treated with pegIFN and RBV dual therapy.

Genotype 1 is the most common form of HCV. Even within a single genotype there may be some slight variations. “Genotyping is important to guide treatment because some viral genotypes respond better to therapy than others. The genetic diversity of HCV is one reason that it has been difficult to develop an effective vaccine since the vaccine must protect against all genotypes.” (WHO, 2011)

To help support the Safety data and to study the potential adverse effects on the other organ systems, we would like to review the results of the following studies. This information is necessary considering the fact that the new drug is meant for long-term administration and that can contribute to long-term adverse effects.

Injection drug use has been the principal mode of transmission of HCV since the 1970's. In comparison to other viral infections, HCV is more rapidly acquired after initiation of intravenous drug use. In addition, rates of HCV among young injecting drug-users are four times higher than HIV infection. Studies of injection drug users have demonstrated that the prevalence of HCV infection in them is extremely high, with up to 90% having been exposed (Patrick et al., 2000). In addition, the incidence of new infections is also high, with seroconversion rates of 10-20 percent per year of injecting (Hahn.2001).