HIV/hepatitis prevention in drug abuse treatment programs: guidance from research.
A large body of research examines the relationship between HIV and drug dependence, but considerably less information is available on viral hepatitis and drug dependence. This article summarizes research indicating what drug abuse treatment programs can do to prevent their patients from acquiring HIV or hepatitis infection and to limit the consequences for patients who are already infected. Drug treatment programs can play a pivotal role in preventing, detecting, and treating HIV and hepatitis. Some activities can be accomplished by providers simply becoming aware of the issues; others will require significant infusion of leadership, education, and fiscal support.
University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California 94110, USA. james@itsa.ucsf.edu
James L
JL
Sorensen
Carmen L
CL
Masson
David C
DC
Perlman
D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003376:Counseling; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000821:virology; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination