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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2019, 21, N4 (pages: 23 - 26)

Risk of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Heroin and Methamphetamine Users

Okruhlica L., and Kamendy Z.

Summary: The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection between opiate and methamphetamine users. Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective comparative study of 222 patients who requested treatment for dependence on opiates (101 patients) or methamphetamines (121). The average age of participants was 23 years old (standard deviation: 4.3), and 75/% were male. Results: We found that 65% of heroin users and 12% of methamphetamine users were infected with HCV. The prevalence among those who injected drugs was 69% and 28%, respectively. 93 % of opiate users and 35% of methamphetamine users had injected drug some time in their life. The HCV infection risk was significantly higher among the heroin users as compared to the methamphetamines users (odds ratio 13.75). Conclusions: The prevalence of injecting behavior and the risk of the HCV infection was lower in methamphetamine users compared to the heroin users. Still, the HCV infection prevalence in the methamphetamine group was much higher than in the general population. Because no substitution treatment is available for methamphetamine users, detoxification followed by a drug-free lifestyle are essential to reducing the risk of drug-related infectious diseases, in general, and of HCV, in particular.