The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report this Thursday revealing a high number of Hepatitis C cases leaping from 2010 to 2015 which tripled in about five years.
One of the causes that the CDC points out for the increase in cases is the use of heroin and the possibly other injection drugs where people are mostly sharing needles.
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting the liver taking one different forms, however, no less serious than the rest. The symptoms aren’t usually manifested until it becomes too late.
Hepatitis C is still a disease that is a deadly threat, even though, there are treatments for the disease they are highly expensive and had to receive. According to the CDC, in 2013 there were about 19 thousand people who died. Associating the disease with more deaths than any other infectious disease in the United States.
In 2015, there were about 20 thousand people who died from Hepatitis C and there are roughly over 3.5 million people over the age of 55 who are infected with the disease.
The reports state that the rising numbers of the infectious disease are common among the younger adults which are a result of the increase in injection drugs along with the growing opioid epidemic.
Some of the ways the CDC suggests to combat the spread of Hepatitis C is through having clean needles accessible. The syringe exchange programs are one way of helping prevent the spread but also the legalization of having a paraphernalia.
By having policies that give access to Hepatitis C treatment clean needles and access to syringe exchange programs can help with the reduction of Hepatitis C transmission. These programs can help people link to treatments that can stop drug use but also have the test done for medical care.
The CDC has found 3 states, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Washington, of the 50 have laws helping people get into the needle exchange programs and provide treatments as well as prevention services for those who injecting drugs.
