Drug users are refused access to prevention materials and denied treatment when infected. Symptoms are often overlooked or dismissed by providers as the effects of illicit drug use. At-risk individuals who present possible symptoms of HCV infection must be advised of the availability of counseling, education and screening as a standard of care. HCV testing cannot be mandatory. Routine testing should be accompanied by comprehensive education followed by the patient's consent.
All counseling provides safer injection education.
Drug users cannot be restricted from appropriate treatment based solely on their drug use. All infected individuals should be provided with vaccinations for Hepatitis A and also Hepatitis B when appropriate. HCV screening must be freely available to all injectors and cannot be limited to institutional contact points such as drug treatment or jail. New and young injectors, particularly higher risk youth, must be a focus of education. Clinical trials must not exclude drug users.