The Threat of Hepatitis C as an Influence on Injecting Amphetamine Users' Change Towards Non-Injecting

ABSTRACT

Young injecting drug users are a particularly vulnerable group for Hepatitis C (HCV) infection. One method for minimising the risk of contraction of Hepatitis C for amphetamine users (not widely explored in the research to date) is through encouraging non-injecting routes of administration (NIROA). Self-report data from 150 young injecting amphetamine users was analysed to investigate the influence of Hepatitis C threat on the decision to cease injecting and the worth of promoting the use of NIROA. Application of the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change and the Expanded Health Belief Model showed that threat of Hepatitis C was not perceived as reason to cease injecting at any stage in the injecting career. Cessation was a result of personal choice, rather than response to any type of threat. This supports the promotion of harm reduction rather than abstinence campaigns. Furthermore, the deficits in knowledge of Hepatitis C threat are worthy of campaign attention.

KEYWORDS:

• Hepatitis C virus
• injecting drug use
• amphetamine
• transtheoretical model of behaviour change
• expanded health belief model