Hepatitis C; A Forced Legacy

Good evening folks, its always a good day when the "experts" bring attention to Hepatitis C.

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Reported in the media today is that HIV among IV users has declined while HCV hasn't. According to Shruti H. Mehta of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, "More must be done to reduce the transmission of hepatitis C. With IV use on the rise and the fact that sharing a needle just one time can transmit the virus, researchers warn that "HCV is nearly 10 times more transmissible by IV use than HIV."

For instance, in rural southern Ohio's Scioto County IV use is thriving, with oxycodone being the drug of choice. Reported back in December by the Associated Press were these hard facts; "Scioto County's per capita rates of murder, fatal overdoses and hepatitis C infections have in recent years been outranked only by Ohio's biggest urban areas. The DEA considers the county one of the worst places in the country for prescription painkiller abuse, with more people abusing per capita than almost anywhere else."

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It has taken years for HCV to receive the attention it so badly needs. Because this disease hits so close to home my anger leaves me bitter as I look around to see who is to blame. .

First, this country has been slow to fund needle exchange programs, the US government forbade funding for such services until 2009 when the federal funding ban was lifted. I am appalled at our governments indifference; restraining communities by not funding these programs until a few years ago..

Secondly, it's evident that this disease has never played out well in the media. Could it be that from day one HCV was touted in the press as the "baby boomer" disease? The term gained popularity with journalists when it was first reported that baby boomers account for two out of every three cases of chronic Hepatitis C. Obviously this is accurate, however for me the term "baby boomer" is nothing more then negative connotation insinuating "1960/70's" drug users, all in the hopes of making a journalistic headline more eye-catching. .

The anger I feel is likely the product of my own insecurities. Living in the shadow of the mistakes of my adolescence has caused this fury to fester. Because of my irresponsible actions I carry a debt my psyche must constantly pay. Having to face my children, having to explain to them why I had to undergo treatment, having them contribute to the exoneration of my sins is something I will carry with me until the day I die. But hey, they should understand right? I'm a baby boomer and this disease is my legacy. .

I personally believe this term fueled the stigma attached to HCV in the same way the media years ago deemed HIV "A Gay Mans Disease". We lost years of missed opportunities for awareness in the press, all in the name of sensationalized journalism. I assume the majority of journalists simply used the "term" to convey the large population infected with HCV. However, innocently enough they sent a message that this disease is a disease of drug users. .

Not all baby boomers contracted HCV through drug use. They too are weary of the term, the stigma, the continued attachment of this disease to drug use. .

The kids that are using right now are not aspiring drug addicts. Frankly, neither were we. These kids start out by experimenting, getting caught up with the feeling they get from the first injection which turns into two, then three, and ends with addiction. The kids who never escape their addiction, if they live long enough, grow into forty year old addicts. With many of them living with HIV, HCV or HBV. With that we have another group of adults who do go on to embracing sobriety, these people gain wisdom often only seen by overcoming adversity. .

We can only hope these young people will realize the outcome of addiction: HCV, HIV transmission, or the transmission of other blood-borne pathogens. Hopefully the awareness of these dangers will lead these kids to either stop using or walk into a clinic and take advantage of needle exchange programs. These kids are lost, as we were so many years ago. Maybe this time we can act a little faster, maybe this time we can show some of them another way..