New ACMD report on the prevention of Hepatitis C

Hi all,

The following request has come through from the ACMD:

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is writing a major report on the prevention of Hepatitis C (HCV) in relation to injecting drug use. We are keen to hear the views of ex and current drug users and substance misuse service providers, particularly in relation to the following questions:

•   What recommendations/comments do users and providers have on the current state of HCV prevention activities in England and Wales?

•   Has the quality and intensity of Needle and Syringe Programmes and other prevention programmes changed over time?

•   Do prevention services need to modify or change in order to prevent and target HCV infection as well as HIV infection?

•   What interventions were we doing or are not doing that we should be considering? And what is the evidence base?

Written evidence/comments
We would welcome written responses to the above questions and the prevention of HCV in general. The deadline to get any thoughts/comments to us is 21st March 2008. Please e-mail Mark Keegan in the ACMD Secretariat at Mark.Keegan@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or telephone on 020 7035 4568.

Meeting
We are also holding a meeting on Tuesday 22nd April 2008 in London to speak directly with people affected by HCV and their drug use, and service providers. A number of people will be invited to present their views on the day. If you would like to come to this day and present or just participate in the group discussion session, please indicate this on your e-mail when responding to the above questions or telephone Mark Keegan on 020 7035 4568.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed.