Hepatitis C Virus Infection in People Who Inject Drugs

The United States is experiencing rising rates of hepatitis C infections. New infections are most commonly transmitted through injection drug use. Treating hepatitis C in people who inject drugs benefits (1) the individual by improving health and preventing complications and (2) community health by preventing ongoing transmission to others. Hepatitis C treatment is proven to be effective in people with recent or active injection drug use, yet only a minority of people who inject drugs infected with hepatitis C have been treated. This chapter provides an overview of the current state of hepatitis C testing, linkage to care, and treatment of people who inject drugs through a harm reduction and patient-centered comprehensive approach to care.