Beyond transmission - guidelines for hepatitis C education targeting young people who inject drugs
A collaborative initiative of Queensland Health and the University of Queensland
Written By Megan Williams, Amanda Davies and Sue Conrad (2005), Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre (QADREC)
This resource documents current good practice when engaging with young people about reducing harm associated with drug use, including hepatitis C infection. Information included in the resource is based on a range of research and experience about hepatitis C education.
Recent research shows the highest rates of recent hepatitis C infections occur among people aged between 15-29 years, with transmission related to the sharing of injecting drug use equipment (National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, 2003). Alarmingly low levels of knowledge about hepatitis C prevention have been found among some young injectors, despite many having an awareness of harm reduction messages such as 'don't share injecting equipment'.
The strength of this resource is that it acknowledges that these harm reduction messages are only one factor contributing to the prevention hepatitis C transmission or accessing injecting drug use equipment. The resource helps the reader determine the degree that injecting drug use and working with young drug users is relevant to their role as a service provider or educator, then points out the guidelines that are most applicable. It presents clear and concise information about hepatitis C and young people's drug use, factors that support and inhibit harm minimisation efforts as well as a range of activities, interventions and education messages that can be used when working with young people. Although these guidelines have been specifically designed for educating young people who inject drugs, much of this resource is applicable to health promotion with young people in general.