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ACMD report into the prevention of hepatitis C among injecting drug users

HOME OFFICE News Release (ACDM001/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 25 February 2009

More testing, encouragement to take up combination drug substitution treatments and provision of sterile syringes are among the recommendations to tackle hepatitis C made by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) today.

In its report the ACMD makes clear that hepatitis C is a significant public health issue. Estimates in 2003 show that, in England and Wales, there were 190,000 individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus. The majority of these and new hepatitis C infections are within the intravenous drug injecting community.

The ACMD recognises the key importance of a combination of interventions for the primary prevention of hepatitis C. Today it makes a total of 12 recommendations to help tackle the spread of hepatitis C including:

* provision of better intervention so that services offering methadone also provide sterile injection equipment and that needle and syringe distribution services facilitate entry into drug treatment;

* all services in regular contact with injectors to increase the frequency of hepatitis C diagnostic testing; and

* studies to strengthen the evidence of the impact of interventions on hepatitis C incidence.

Dr Matthew Hickman, Chair of the ACMD Hepatitis C Prevention Working Group, said:

"The ACMD's report has highlighted that the number of hepatitis C infections is not declining and in some groups maybe increasing. Research suggests that among people injecting for three years or less prevalence has almost doubled over the last 10 years from 12 per cent to 21 per cent in 2007.

"There are some parts of the country where on average one in two injectors will be infected with the hepatitis C virus, which is why it is so important to provide comprehensive intervention including drug treatment and ultimately stop people injecting.

"Positive and good evidence on the impact of interventions is emerging. The findings show that a combination of interventions with increased coverage is likely to be most effective in preventing hepatitis C."

The publication of the ACMD report coincides with guidance published today by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) encouraging Primary Care Trusts to review their local needle and syringe services with an aim to expand availability. The ACMD endorses NICE guidance that needle and syringe programmes are cost effective, and that a combination of interventions are the most effective, including drug treatment and possibly treatment of hepatitis C in active injectors. ACMD considers greater hepatitis C testing and knowledge of hepatitis C status to be of benefit to patient and society.

Notes to Editors

1. The report; 'The Primary Prevention of Hepatitis C Among Injecting Drug Users', will be available from 13:00. on 25th February on the ACMD website at http://www.drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs-laws/acmd/ .

2. The ACMD's report was undertaken by its Prevention Working Group under the Chairmanship of Dr. Matthew Hickman. The Prevention Working Group, aims to provide advice and recommendations on the health and social problems connected with substance misuse.

3. To assist in its review of the evidence regarding hepatitis c prevention, the ACMD co-opted experts from the fields of epidemiology, virology, general practice, statistics and modelling, health economics, social science, public health and drug treatment.

4. Information on the NICE guidance on the benefits of needle and syringe programmes can be found on the NICE website at http://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/PH18

5. The ACMD is a Non-Departmental Public Body established in 1971 by the Misuse of Drugs Act. The ACMD provides independent expert advice to ministers on drug misuse - primarily to the Home Office, but also to other government departments.

6. The ACMD's membership consists of experts from a wide range of professions. The ACMD is chaired by Professor David Nutt. Other members include experts in: pharmacology, psychiatry, public health, GPs, senior police officers, substance misuse and mental health.

For more information about the membership and terms of reference:
http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs-laws/acmd/about-us

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