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Updating the infection risk reduction hierarchy: Preventing transition into injection

  • Special Feature: Hepatitis C Virus
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Abstract

Current approaches to prevention of blood-borne infections in injection drug users include referral to drug abuse treatment, access to sterile syringes, bleach disinfection of injection equipment, and education about not sharing equipment. However, rates of some blood-borne infections (e.g., hepatitis C virus) remain elevated among injection drug users, especially early after initiation into injection drug use. With lower infection rates in noninjectors and transition into injection drug use occurring most commonly among these noninjectors, prevention of transition into injection drug use as an additional step to reduce risk for acquisition and transmission of blood-borne infections merits closer attention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, 10029, New York, NY

    David Vlahov,  Crystal M. Fuller,  Danielle C. Ompad &  Sandro Galea

  2. the Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York

    Crystal M. Fuller

  3. the Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York

    Don C. Des Jarlais

Authors
  1. David Vlahov
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  2. Crystal M. Fuller
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  3. Danielle C. Ompad
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  4. Sandro Galea
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  5. Don C. Des Jarlais
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Correspondence to David Vlahov.

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Vlahov, D., Fuller, C.M., Ompad, D.C. et al. Updating the infection risk reduction hierarchy: Preventing transition into injection. J Urban Health 81, 14–19 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/jth083

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/jth083

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