Topic Summary
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and Illicit Drug Use (Fact Sheet)
Publication date:
2005
Author:
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
This publication has been archived on the CCSA website and was current when it was published. It is available for reference or research purposes.
Summarizes data on hepatitis C infection and illicit drug use, including risk factors, prevention and treatment measures. When the summary was published in 2005, from 130 to 170 million people worldwide were infected with the virus. In Canada, approximately 1% of the population was infected. The summary predicts that the disease burden and social costs associated with it will rise steadily.