We assessed its prevalence in a sample of 334 consecutively admitted middle class substance abusers in a private urban hospital, and ascertained risk factors for its transmission. Using logistic regression, we found risk factors associated with HCV were intravenous drug use, needle sharing, prior liver disease, opioid dependence, HIV infection, and benzodiazepine dependence. Not found to increase infective risk were lower social class, male gender, African American race, male homosexuality, unemployment, and the absence of private health insurance. Multiple viral genotype types were identified in this sample, suggesting diverse sources of transmission in the sample. This study documents an epidemic of HCV in an American middle class sample.
Substance abusers are more likely to smoke cigarettes than the general population .
Yet, in most drug treatment programs smoking cessation receives little attention. Almost one fourth were current smokers. Smoking and nonsmoking counselors differed in their attitudes toward nicotine addiction, barriers to treatment, and satisfaction with smoking cessation training. Few counselors routinely followed the clinical preventive guidelines with nicotine dependent clients. However, they were receptive to providing smoking cessation treatment.