Transitions from injecting to non-injecting drug use: Potential protection against HCV infection

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Don C. Des Jarlais, Beth Israel Medical Center; Courtney McKnight, Beth Israel Medical Center; Kamyar Arasteh, Beth Israel Medical Center; Jonathan Feelemyer, Beth Israel Medical Center; David C. Perlman, Beth Israel Medical Center; Holly Hagan, New York University College of Nursing; Hannah Cooper, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2014-03-01
• Publisher: Pergamon Elsevier Science LTC
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2013.09.004
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 325
• End Page: 331
• Keywords: Substance Abuse; Psychology; HCV; Non-injecting drug use; Psychology, Clinical; HEROIN; SEXUAL TRANSMISSION; NEW-YORK-CITY; Science & Technology; DECLINE; Injecting drug use; Substance abuse; HIV; HIV RISK; SIMPLEX-VIRUS TYPE-2; Social Sciences; Drug use; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; AMSTERDAM
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Transitions from injecting to non-injecting drug use have been reported from many different areas, particularly in areas with large human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics. The extent to which such transitions actually protect against HIV and HCV has not been determined. A cross-sectional survey with HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) testing was conducted with 322 former injectors (persons who had injected illicit drugs but permanently transitioned to non-injecting use) and 801 current injectors recruited in New York City between 2007 and 2012. There were no differences in HIV prevalence, while HCV prevalence was significantly lower among former injectors compared to current injectors. Years injecting functioned as a mediating variable linking former injector status to lower HCV prevalence. Transitions have continued well beyond the reduction in the threat of AIDS to injectors in the city. New interventions to support transitions to non-injecting drug use should be developed and supported by both drug treatment and syringe exchange programs.