2005 MAY 16 - (NewsRx.com) -- Medical exams before drug abuse treatment open avenues for hepatitis screening.

   According to recent research from the United States, \"over the course of addiction, a substantial proportion of drug users enter drug abuse treatment programs. Data from a cross-sectional survey of drug abuse treatment programs in the United States were analyzed to describe the scope of the medical examination performed at admission to such programs.\"

   \"All of the methadone programs (n=95) and 50% of drug-free programs (80 of 161) required a medical examination at entry. Most examinations included screening for signs and symptoms of liver disease and liver function testing,\" wrote H. Hagan and colleagues, National Development and Research Institute, Center for Drug Use and HIV Research.

   \"Nearly all methadone programs (97%) provided referral to medical care or support for patients with test results positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV), compared with 75% of drug-free programs (p<0.01). Drug-free programs requiring medical examinations provided education about HCV and testing for HCV to a larger proportion of their patients (p<0.05).

   \"With high dropout rates in the early stages of treatment for drug addiction, these medical visits may be an important opportunity for further monitoring and care for HCV infection and other conditions,\" scientists concluded.

   Hagan and colleagues published their study in Clinical Infectious Diseases (Medical examinations at entry to treatment for drug abuse as an opportunity to initiate care for hepatitis C virus infection. Clin Infect Dis, 2005;40(Suppl. 5):S297-S303).

   For additional information, contact H. Hagan, National Development & Research Institute, Center Drug Use & HIV Research, 71 W 23rd St., New York, NY 10010, USA.

   Publisher contact information for the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases is: University Chicago Press, 1427 E 60TH St., Chicago, IL 60637-2954, USA.

   Keywords: New York, New York, United States, Addiction Medicine, Biotechnology, Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatology, Virology.

   This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2005, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com.

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