The Prevalence Of Hepatitis C

Present day tendencies can also be evaluated by analysing a study of people who inject drugs in Sydney, Australia. The research showed that the majority of surveyed participants conducted their usage in close friendship groups. A small percentage of the participants had contracted injecting relating diseases such as hepatitis c. Those with the disease stated they were drug dependent and have consequently been excluded from social circles and now regularly inject in shooting galleries. ( Paquette, Bryant, De Whit, 2011: 267-273)

An increase in drug use, specifically opiates, has overwhelmed the United States. This behavior has led to a rise in the transmission of HIV/Hepatitis C which would be otherwise preventable. The needle exchange programs in Moorhead, Milwaukee, and Scott County are working to lower the transmission rate and increase participation in treatment programs.

As the number of intravenous drug users continues to rise, so does the risk of dangerous and potentially fatal complications that are associated with illicit drug use. In this population, death rates are higher due to overdose, AIDs-related mortality, and other blood-borne viruses (Mathers et al., 2013). Mortality rates remain high even though precautions have been taken to reduce them. According to Lavender & McCarron (2013), “Mortality in injecting drug users is up to 22 times higher than for the age-adjusted population, despite increased provision of needle and syringe programs, reduced needle and syringe sharing, and higher uptake of hepatitis B vaccination” (p. 511).

Several studies have shown that injection drug users lower their risk of transmitting infectious diseases when there is a needle exchange program available. There has not been a valid study of whether or not the amounts of time needles are returned to the exchange programs are harmful to communities. The Journal of Public Health, conducted surveys, evidence from needle exchange sites, jails, and institutions that needle exchange programs are effective in reducing illnesses such as HIV and AIDS (Burt & Theide, 2016). Furthermore, Reepalu, Blome, Bjork, Widell, & Bjorkman (2012), researched the same individuals for 20 years, with no breaks. Their studies concluded that injection drug use, not only heightens the risk for HIV and AID’s, there is also an increase in Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. However, there studies showed that there is not an increase rate of cancer diagnoses due to injection drug use. In a study conducted by Bonar and Rosenberg (2014), they wanted to see if self-initiated harm strategies, such as: proper needle sterilization techniques, proper disposal of needles, and cleaning of the pre injected skin, could help improve the health of those that use drugs intravenously. Their study was conducted over an eight-month period, results showed that their

The Never event: Exposing the largest outbreak of hepatitis c in American healthcare history (McKnight & Bennington, 2008) begins telling the story of what should have been a “top-notch” cancer center with a doctor committed to saving lives. Memorial Hospital of Dodge County was expanding their cancer services, making access to services easier for the community. They wanted to keep their patients in town and help them avoid commutes to Omaha. They hired Dr. Tahir Ali Javed from Punjab, Pakistan; he educated and trained at well-known, prestigious facilities. Everything that was put into place, the new facility and outstanding physician, made it seem as though the cancer center was going to exceed the expectations that the hospital had in mind. However, malpractice, lack of compassion, and avoidance drove the center and the patients into the ground. After reading this novel, I was able to define compassionate care in my own terms and will provide examples of acts of compassionate care. As well as, discussing the principles of dignity and beneficence in regards to Dr. Javed and nurses in the clinic. Lastly, I will provide a testimony statement about the future care of patients.

Sharing of needles used by injection drug users contributes heavily to the spread of blood-borne diseases, accounting for almost one third of new HIV infections outside sub-Saharan Africa (Ball, 2007). Various studies support that blood-borne disease transmission and contraction are strongly linked to injection drug use. A study conducted by Semaan et al. that analyzed data of 10,301 persons who inject drugs in revealed that 32% had shared syringes during the 12 months prior (Semaan et al., 2011). A second study involving 309 injection drug users found HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevalence of 42.4%, 80.9%, and 74.1%, respectively. The study also revealed that 63.8% of the participants engaged in indirect sharing practices within six months prior.

Intravenous drug users are some of the individuals most susceptible for contracting and transmitting blood-borne diseases such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In Canada, there was an estimated 71,300 cases of HIV at the end of 2011 with an incidence of approximately 2,250 to 4,100 cases. IDUs account for 13.7% of Canadians living with HIV. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HVC) is currently

Given the alarming rise in rates of prescription-opioid abuse and the relationship to heroin abuse, many communities are beginning to explore various ways to mitigate their effects. Various proactive approaches, such as needle exchanges have proven effective in reducing the incidences of HCV and

Hepatitis C used to affect minorities in urban areas. In June 2015, an epidemic has occurred in rural Appalachia among 18-24 year old white drug users. The sharing of needles contribute to the outbreak. In parts of Indiana, 25% of the population live in poverty, making treatment options unattainable (Galofarno

Needle exchange programs are considered in the public’s eye as controversial topic. The major public fears involve that these needle exchange programs will propagate the drug problem even more. Another fear is the spread of diseases such as HIV that will spread more rapidly than before among users. These two issues unify where the use of intravenous drugs not only creates disease risk from injection with tainted needles, but also increases risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases through promiscuous sex, possibly related to drug use. However, with the local health departments allowed to offer needle exchange programs give access to drug users to prevent contaminating the major population. "A

Are drug users people too? The health and safety of all people is crucial. It’s important keeping drug dependent people free of HIV this prevents its spread to their partners and their children. In order to provide necessary care, free sterilized needles should be given to drug users. The public should be advised of positive effects of needle exchange programs and warned of the risks of not supplying adequate syringes. The provocative idea of giving drug addicts clean needles to help slow the spread of HIV/AIDS was first broached in 1985. This concept has been under research ever since. Harm reduction approaches for those who inject drugs, including the distribution of clean needles and syringes, are proven interventions to prevent transmission of HIV and other blood-borne viruses, and are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other leading public health agencies.

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

Suzanne Fraser’s chapter Beyond the ‘potsherd’ (2011) discusses the ongoing stigma associated with the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in relation to injected drug-use. By emphasising the role that social perceptions have on shaping such diseases, she aims to re-conceptualise HCV, thus encouraging new and unprejudiced responses by the public and the Australian healthcare system (Fraser, 2011). This essay will examine the origin of this stigma, the symbolic link between HCV and injecting drug users (IDUs), and the ambiguity of HCV and drug discrimination, in line with influential theories of drugs and drug-use.

The hypotheses, according to this article are there gender differences in Social support and depression among injection drug users in Houston, Texas. Drug using men and women are definitely nine times more likely to share drugs than non drug user. These users are also less likely to share needles or using equipment with anyone. The article states that there are low levels of social support and they are associated with depressive symptoms. Do men and women have different social supports groups and do they use their support group in different ways? The article states that their male partners introduce some women to drug injection and so they get inject drugs with them. According to the article women also have differences in their social support and also they have depressive symptoms between males and women drug users in Houston Texas. The review of prior literature in this article did give a good idea of how the study can make new contributions to society by using the CES-D and the MSPSS tools. According to the article the theory that the researcher conducted test the hypothesis and the theory is supported by data from the research.

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. There are currently five known viruses that cause can hepatitis (Microbiology, 10e). The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted through contact with the blood of an infected person; however, it is now more commonly spread among IV drug users that share needles. Healthcare workers are also at risk for contracting HCV, but with standard precautions, the risk is low. “Prior to 1992, some people acquired the HCV infection from transfusions of blood or blood products. Since 1992, all blood products have been screened for HCV, and cases of HCV due to blood transfusion now are extremely rare. HCV can be passed from mother to unborn child. Approximately 4 out of every 100 infants born to HCV-positive mothers