The opioid epidemic has resulted in significant increases in HIV, HCV, and syphilis among people who inject drugs. The intent of this Guide is to build the capacity of Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs), with an emphasis on publicly funded OTPs, to integrate infectious disease prevention, screening, and treatment services. Integrating infectious disease services at OTPs has the potential to both (i) enhance prevention, screening, and treatment by addressing key gaps in patient care, and (ii) support patients’ recovery journeys by improving their overall well-being. This Guide provides insights, examples, and strategies to support OTPs in integrating infectious disease services into behavioral health programming.
This Supplemental Guide is developed as a supplement to Your Guide to Integrating HCV Services into Opioid Treatment Programs.
The purpose of these two resources is to build the capacity of publicly funded Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) to integrate Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) prevention and treatment services into their programs. The opioid epidemic has resulted in significant increases in HCV among people who inject drugs, accounting for 23% of new infections. HCV is completely curable and testing and treatment are the path to cure. OTPs play a critical role in comprehensive approaches to addressing HCV and this guide is one tool to help.
This guide is intended to build the capacity of publicly funded Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) to integrate Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) prevention and treatment services into their programs. The guide may also be useful for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), community and healthcare coalitions, nonprofit organizations and other substance use disorder and HCV treatment providers. The opioid epidemic has resulted in significant increases in HCV among people who inject drugs, accounting for 23% of new infections. HCV is completely curable and testing and treatment are the path to cure. OTPs play a critical role in comprehensive approaches to addressing HCV and this guide is one tool to help.
This ATTC initiative disseminates the latest on the rapidly evolving field of HCV and provides comprehensive resources for health professionals, including:
Online and In-Person Curriculum and Training
Provider Tools Available for Download
A Guide to Assist Opioid Treatment Programs in Integrating HCV Testing and Treatment
An estimated 2.4 million Americans are living with hepatitis C (HCV). Many people who have HCV do not know they have it. Certain factors, such as injection drug use, can increase a person’s risk for HCV. In March 2020, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published a final recommendation statement recommending that clinicians screen all adults aged 18-79 years for HCV. HCV rates increased 71% from 2014-2018. Two-thirds of new cases occurred in people 20-39 years old, the age group most impacted by the opioid epidemic. Unsafe injection drug use is cited as a major contributor to this increase in HCV infections. (National Viral Hepatitis Plan 2021-2025).
FREE Training!
The ATTC Network offers multiple training options, including:
Free, 90-minute online course providing an overview of HCV. The four self-paced modules cover: populations at risk, overview of HCV, screening processes, and treatment options. Continuing education is available.
This 6-hour face-to-face training curriculum was recently updated in 2019 and includes the latest in treatment options available and the impact of the opioid epidemic on HCV in the U.S. The course is designed to instruct behavioral health and medical providers on hepatitis C (HCV) epidemiology, opportunities for promoting HCV screening and testing, treatment options and considerations, and linking persons infected to HCV health care. By the end of this training, participants should be able to:
List at least three populations impacted by the opioid crisis, 2019.
List at least three infections that result from injection drug use.
Discuss at least two reasons why it is important to promote hepatitis C screening and confirmatory diagnostic testing.
Describe at least three prevention messages that can be used when promoting hepatitis C screening and testing.
List at least three treatment factors to consider and describe at least two new treatment options available for patients with HCV.
Provide examples of at least three strategies to link persons infected with HCV to HCV-focused health care.
Request a Hepatitis C training by contacting the ATTC in your region.
