Residential Substance User Treatment Programs as Venues for HCV Pharmacological Treatment: Client and Staff Perspectives

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent among drug users. While there are antiviral medications available to combat the virus, the medication regimen is quite arduous, presenting special issues for drug users. We examined the challenges and benefits of using residential substance user treatment programs as venues for clients to undergo HCV medication regimens. Analyses of qualitative data collected from clients and staff in 2003 at four residential substance user treatment programs in the U.S. indicate that challenges primarily include issues involving the medications' side effects, and both financial and communication concerns. Benefits especially involve clients' feelings that they are being proactive in addressing health issues in an environment that provides much-needed support. Findings illuminate the complex issues involved for both clients and the programs, and some steps that programs can take to better support HCV-infected clients regarding HCV medication concerns.

Keywords:

• Hepatitis C
• drug users
• residential substance user treatment
• HCV medication

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shiela M. Strauss

Shiela M. Strauss is Principal Investigator of the STOP Hep C project at the National Development and Research Institutes in New York City, and Director of the Statistics and Data Analysis Core of the Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR) at the organization. Her current research interests especially include the drug treatment program response to hepatitis C, and the use of the most appropriate statistical techniques for optimal analysis of behavioral science data.

Janetta M. Astone

Janetta M. Astoneis a Co-Investigator at the National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., in New York City. She coordinates the STOP Hep C Project, which examines hepatitis C related service provision at drug treatment programs. Her research interests include health services delivery at drug treatment programs, and the implementation and evaluation of interventions for clients and drug treatment staff regarding hepatitis C.

Corrine Munoz-Plaza

Corrine Munoz-Plazais a Principal Research Associate with the National Development and Research Institutes in New York City. Her current work involves data collection and analysis on the STOP Hep C Project and her research interests include qualitative methodology and program evaluation. She received her M.P.H. (1999) in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Holly Hagan

Holly Haganis an infectious disease epidemiologist with more than ten years' experience studying the epidemiology and prevention of HIV and hepatitis infections in drug users. A lead investigator at NDRI, Dr. Hagan is also the Deputy Director for the Center for Drug Use and HIV Research at the organization.

Don Des Jarlais

Don Des Jarlaisis Director of Research for the Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute at Beth Israel Medical Center, a Research Fellow with the National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., and Professor of Epidemiology with the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He began his research on AIDS in 1982. A leader in the fields of AIDS and injecting drug use, Dr. Des Jarlais is currently working on research studies in 20 different countries.