Abstract
Background: Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) use has increased in recent years and generated significant concern within public health. People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk of blood borne viruses, in particular Hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, little is known about the extent of NPS injecting at a national level and its association with HCV. This study provides one of the first epidemiological analyses of the association between NPS injecting and HCV among a population level sample of PWID.
Methods: Five cross sectional surveys of almost 13,000 PWID attending services providing injecting equipment across Scotland between 2008 and 2016 were analysed. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between NPS injecting and HCV.
Results: The proportion of PWID reporting that they had injected NPS in the previous six months increased from 0.2% in 2008-09 to 11.0% in 2015-16. Those who reported injecting NPS were considerably more likely to be resident in the Lothian NHS Board area at the time of the study (AOR 5.6 (95% CI 4.1-7.5)) and to have had recent experience of homelessness (AOR 1.4 (95% CI 1.0-1.9)). People who injected NPS were also significantly more likely to be HCV positive (AOR 1.7 (95% CI 1.2-2.4)). In Lothian, HCV prevalence rose from around 30% between 2008 and 2012 to 41% and then 48% in 2013-14 and 2015-16 respectively. Increases in prevalent HCV infection in Lothian may be partly attributed to increases in NPS injecting.
Conclusion: In Scotland, people who had injected Novel Psychoactive Substances were at increased risk of hepatitis C virus. Novel Psychoactive Substance injecting poses a threat to HCV elimination strategies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 30-37 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | International Journal of Drug Policy |
| Volume | 66 |
| Early online date | 25 Jan 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2019 |
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Keywords
- HCV
- NESI
- NPS
- PWID
- Prevalence
- Scotland
Cite this
}
Emergence of Novel Psychoactive Substance injecting associated with rapid rise in the population prevalence of hepatitis C virus. / McAuley, Andrew (Lead / Corresponding author); Yeung, Alan; Taylor, Avril; Hutchinson, Sharon J.; Goldberg, David J.; Munro, Alison.
In: International Journal of Drug Policy, Vol. 66, 04.2019, p. 30-37.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Emergence of Novel Psychoactive Substance injecting associated with rapid rise in the population prevalence of hepatitis C virus
AU - McAuley, Andrew
AU - Yeung, Alan
AU - Taylor, Avril
AU - Hutchinson, Sharon J.
AU - Goldberg, David J.
AU - Munro, Alison
N1 - Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/4
Y1 - 2019/4
N2 - Background: Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) use has increased in recent years and generated significant concern within public health. People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk of blood borne viruses, in particular Hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, little is known about the extent of NPS injecting at a national level and its association with HCV. This study provides one of the first epidemiological analyses of the association between NPS injecting and HCV among a population level sample of PWID.Methods: Five cross sectional surveys of almost 13,000 PWID attending services providing injecting equipment across Scotland between 2008 and 2016 were analysed. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between NPS injecting and HCV.Results: The proportion of PWID reporting that they had injected NPS in the previous six months increased from 0.2% in 2008-09 to 11.0% in 2015-16. Those who reported injecting NPS were considerably more likely to be resident in the Lothian NHS Board area at the time of the study (AOR 5.6 (95% CI 4.1-7.5)) and to have had recent experience of homelessness (AOR 1.4 (95% CI 1.0-1.9)). People who injected NPS were also significantly more likely to be HCV positive (AOR 1.7 (95% CI 1.2-2.4)). In Lothian, HCV prevalence rose from around 30% between 2008 and 2012 to 41% and then 48% in 2013-14 and 2015-16 respectively. Increases in prevalent HCV infection in Lothian may be partly attributed to increases in NPS injecting.Conclusion: In Scotland, people who had injected Novel Psychoactive Substances were at increased risk of hepatitis C virus. Novel Psychoactive Substance injecting poses a threat to HCV elimination strategies.
AB - Background: Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) use has increased in recent years and generated significant concern within public health. People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk of blood borne viruses, in particular Hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, little is known about the extent of NPS injecting at a national level and its association with HCV. This study provides one of the first epidemiological analyses of the association between NPS injecting and HCV among a population level sample of PWID.Methods: Five cross sectional surveys of almost 13,000 PWID attending services providing injecting equipment across Scotland between 2008 and 2016 were analysed. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between NPS injecting and HCV.Results: The proportion of PWID reporting that they had injected NPS in the previous six months increased from 0.2% in 2008-09 to 11.0% in 2015-16. Those who reported injecting NPS were considerably more likely to be resident in the Lothian NHS Board area at the time of the study (AOR 5.6 (95% CI 4.1-7.5)) and to have had recent experience of homelessness (AOR 1.4 (95% CI 1.0-1.9)). People who injected NPS were also significantly more likely to be HCV positive (AOR 1.7 (95% CI 1.2-2.4)). In Lothian, HCV prevalence rose from around 30% between 2008 and 2012 to 41% and then 48% in 2013-14 and 2015-16 respectively. Increases in prevalent HCV infection in Lothian may be partly attributed to increases in NPS injecting.Conclusion: In Scotland, people who had injected Novel Psychoactive Substances were at increased risk of hepatitis C virus. Novel Psychoactive Substance injecting poses a threat to HCV elimination strategies.
KW - HCV
KW - NESI
KW - NPS
KW - PWID
KW - Prevalence
KW - Scotland
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85060498094&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.01.008
DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.01.008
M3 - Article
VL - 66
SP - 30
EP - 37
JO - International Journal of Drug Policy
JF - International Journal of Drug Policy
SN - 0955-3959
ER -