Hepatitis C Screening and Management Practices: A Survey of Drug Treatment and Syringe Exchange Programs in New York City

Injection drug users (IDUs) account for more than 60% of all new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in the United States.1,2 Fifty to eighty percent of new IDUs are infected within 6 to 12 months of initial injection.3 Current treatment regimens are not highly effective, and no vaccine against HCV is available.1,4–7 Studies suggest that drug treatment and syringe exchange programs may play a role in reducing HCV infection among participants by promoting drug abstinence or safer injection practices among those who continue to use drugs.3,8–12 The New York City Department of Health conducted a survey of local drug treatment and syringe exchange programs to determine whether their HCV screening and counseling practices were carried out, as recommended in recent federal guidelines.1