Hepatitis C and young drug users

  • Research program:
  • Project status: Completed
  • Start date: March 1993
  • Expected end date: January 1994
  • Completion date: January 1994
  • Funded by: WA Health Promotion Foundation
  • Lead organisation:

This study is an investigation of knowledge and attitudes about HCV, some aspects of risky behaviour, and HCV prevalence of young people (ie. under the age of 21) who use injectable drugs. This population has been selected for study because on-going research at this Centre into young drug users and HIV/AIDS shows that may of them may also be at considerable risk of HCV infection. However, unlike older IDUs who have been HCV tested in treatment agencies, they rarely come into drug treatment and very little is known about their risk of HCV. The aims of the study are to collect data that can be used for the development of education and prevention campaigns, to estimate exposure to HCV of those in the sample who are interviewed personally, and to offer education about HCV to all participants.

Name & Contact Details Role Research Program Location
  • Chief Investigator: Wendy Loxley, Curtin University
  • Project staff: Alison Marsh, Curtin University
  • Project staff: Claudia Ovenden,
  • Project staff: Susan Carruthers, Curtin University

This project aligns with the following Sustainable Development Goals and Targets:

Carruthers, S. and Loxley, W. (2002). Attitudes of novice injecting drug users towards non-injecting routes of administration to prevent the transmission of blood borne viruses. International Journal of Drug Policy, 13, (1), pp. 69-74. doi:10.1016/S0955-3959(02)00005-1 [RJ482] View web page