Best Practices
- Accept and treat without judgement - see addiction as an illness and young injection drug users as people.
- Provide all care at one site to facilitate easy and more efficient access.
- Incorporate outreach to “meet the client/patient where they are.”
- Include all team members in cultural competency/sensitivity training including non-clinical staff e.g., front desk staff.
Resources
- Myths about Treating Substance Users with Hepatitis C Virus (Source: National Coordinating Resource Center, AIDS Education and Training Center Program) - This infographic identifies common misconceptions associated with treating HCV in substance users with HIV. People with substance use disorder have been cured of HCV and have low rates of re-infection. However, provider myths regarding patient readiness and the cost-effectiveness of care present challenges and can delay initiation of HCV treatment and care. The resource is available as a downloadable, printable and shareable flyer, and as a training slide set.
- Myth-Busting HCV Treatment: Demystifying HCV Treatment in At-Risk Populations (Source: New England AIDS Education and Training Center) – This part of the “Myth-Busting HCV Treatment” series explores how advances in HCV treatment have affected the clinical management of people who inject drugs, especially younger individuals, and persons with SUD. It also examines various monitoring strategies that can be used during HCV treatment and follow-up for hard-to-reach populations.
- Myth-Busting HCV Treatment: Integrated Models of HCV Care Delivery (Source: New England AIDS Education and Training Center) – This part of the “Myth-Busting HCV Treatment” series describes the process of care and patient outcomes in a practice serving young injection drug users with integrated HCV treatment services and opioid use disorder services.