Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus services offered by substance abuse treatment programs in the United States.

Although substance abuse treatment programs are important contact points for providing health services for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, availability of services in these programs has not been well characterized. This study evaluated the spectrum of HBV and HCV services offered by substance abuse treatment programs within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN). A survey of substance abuse treatment program administrators covered availability of testing for HBV and HCV, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and HBV immunization, and HCV medical and nonmedical services. There were also questions covering clarity of guidelines for HBV and HCV testing and HAV and HBV immunization. Differences between methadone and nonmethadone programs were examined.

Conclusions: Despite the importance of substance abuse in sustaining the hepatitis epidemics, few programs offer comprehensive HBV and HCV testing or HCV health care services. Because substance abuse treatment programs are an important point of contact to provide risk-reduction counseling, testing, and treatment for these infections, these identified shortcomings provide opportunities for public health intervention.

Related protocols: CTN-0012