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
For further press enquires please contact Nick Logan on 020 7035 3535