Hepatitis C is a type of liver disease that can result in chronic infection and ongoing medical problems. In its progressive form, Hepatitis is associated with issues like cancer, permanent damage, and complete liver failure.
Hepatitis from drug use remains a serious risk. Research shows that anywhere from 70-90% of Americans who have injected drugs for over ten years have the Hepatitis C virus (hep C). Statistics may be trending down- mainly due to increased awareness and advanced treatment options, but the imminent danger still exists. Here’s what you need to know.
Can You Get Hepatitis From Needles?
Yes. Hep C can spread through contact with infected bodily fluids. Therefore, sharing needles poses a serious liability. The more you engage in this behavior, the more susceptible you are to this risk.
Sharing or even reusing own needles increases the chance of catching the virus. Furthermore, using syringes with detachable needles can be even more dangerous, as these syringes typically hold more blood.
Furthermore, needle use is also associated with other risky behaviors. Hep C can spread on surfaces, through fingers, and via drug-related paraphernalia. It can also spread through unprotected sex- because drugs lower people’s inhibitions, they may be more likely to engage in this behavior. Keep in mind that the virus itself is undetectable to the naked eye, and any of these actions can transmit it.
What Are The Illegal Drugs That Cause Liver Damage?
The liver is an essential part of the human body. It’s responsible for more than 500 basic functions, including digestion, metabolism, protein synthesis, and storing vitamins and minerals. With that in mind, nearly any illicit drug can aggravate or cause liver problems.
Moreover, Hep C and alcoholism also go hand-in-hand. Excess drinking can result in a fatty liver, which prevents the liver from working effectively. Research shows that nearly one-third of people with fatty liver develop liver inflammation, also known as alcoholic hepatitis.
Alcoholic hepatitis can be life-threatening, and approximately 30% of people who develop this condition die from it. In milder cases, it can result in swelling, appetite changes, itching, and general feelings of sickness.
How Can You Avoid the Risk of Hepatitis C?
Some risk of Hepatitis is inevitable. However, you can take several steps to reduce the likelihood of getting or spreading the virus.
Some of the riskiest behaviors include:
- Sharing infected needles.
- Directly engaging with infected blood or bodily fluids.
- Having sex with someone infected.
Along with drug use, people who work in healthcare, have been to prison, or were born between 1945-1965 have a higher likelihoood of being exposed.
It’s also important to know some of the key symptoms, which include:
- Stomach pain.
- Yellowed skin (jaundice).
- Low-grade fevers that don’t go away.
- Severe appetite changes.
- Fatigue and lethargy.
- Aching muscles, joints, or unexplained body pains.
- Dark urine.
- Pale or light brown stool.
While having one of these symptoms alone does not necessarily indicate Hep C, you should contact your healthcare provider if you notice any clusters or worsening symptoms. If you routinely use drugs intravenously, regular check-ups and assessments are even more crucial.
Can Hepatitis C Be Treated?
Although there are vaccines available for Hepatitis A and B, this option doesn’t exist for Hepatitis C.
In recent years, scientists and medical experts have made significant headway in treating Hep C. Today, antiviral medications can help directly remove the virus from your body. This process can happen as quickly as 8-24 weeks. If treatment is successful, the individual is considered cured from Hep C.
However, the medication option won’t work for everyone, especially because the body may not show any symptoms until after serious liver damage occurs. At this point, medication interventions may not be as effective.
Some people are appropriate candidates for liver transplantation. While the donated liver doesn’t cure the virus, the antiviral medication may offer more effective treatment.
Final Thoughts
Drug use invariably comes with numerous psychological and medical health risks. The longer you use- and the more frequently you use- the greater likelihood you have of facing such consequences.
That said, stopping isn’t as easy as wanting to stop. If you’re struggling to get your life back on track, you may need professional support. We are here to help. Contact us today at (866) 578-7471 to learn more.
34 comments
Drugs used regularly come with various medical health risks. Stopping is not easy as wanting to stop. Some risk of Hepatitis is inevitable.
Hepatitis is well known liver disease that causes all manners of symptom and also infiltrates cancer. Thanks for sharing this important article.
This blog shows that substance abuse with having hepatitis C can be dangerous to health. People must try to avoid getting injected through the use of needles to avoid the contacting the deadly liver disease.
Thank you so much for these write up. It has open my eyes to some hidden secrets about health and healthy living.
Hepatitis C is truly a silent killer; little do people know about it. This is a very interesting and educating write up. Sticking to the precautions is what matters now.
Thank you for the helpful info! Hepatitis is dangerous and could lead to so much problems. It’s good to know the causes and preventions to the disease. Much appreciated!
These are useful to all. May God give us the enablement to take to advice.
This is a very educative article on hepatitis C and substance abuse. The use of some illegal drugs can contribute to the deadly liver disease and luckily, there are solutions for those who have it.
Thanks for the revelation of these secrets. We shall take our time to take to advice.
A great deal of information here. Hepatitis. So too much alcoholism can lead one to have such sickness… Thanks for the things to do to reduce once chances of getting infected
This is very informative. Its true some diseases can come from needles. It is rare but at times you will get more than addiction. Be careful what you wish for you may get it and more,
Thank you for sharing this useful and helpful information, one can get hepatitis from sharing needles. It was quite educative. Detox to rehab thanks for sharing.
This knowledge about Hepatitis connection to substance abuse,so we can draw a conclusion what happen on that situation
Stopping is not as easy as wanting to stop. For us to escape such consequences the earliest the better for us. Thank for sharing this.
This diseases are life destructive. Care must be taken by everyone to avoid being a victim.
Thank you Detox for highly informative article about hepatitis. Indeed, I have learnt the connection between hepatitis and drug abuse.
I had little Idea about this Before.
It’s Great to know these Symptoms so as to take necessary steps if any is noticed in the Body system.
This article has done a wonderful job in enlightening me , I really had no idea about hepatitis and it relation to drug abuse until now. Nice write up.
Hepatitis has negative Effects on the Body system.
It is possible to stay uninfected if these Preventions are Adhered to.
This is an Informative Article.
I really found much knowledge in this beautiful write up. I don’t know hepatitis c is this kind of information to learn from. Indeed knowledge is power.
Thanks for sharing
It’s really key to know some certain things, this is an eye opener and I’m happy for coming across this piece.
This information tells us how dangerous drug use can be with hepatitis C. It is rare but at times you will get more than addiction.
Continous intake of drugs damages the health. This is a great article. I wish more people could learn from it
Interesting findings. I know the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers contracted hepatitis C from years of drug use. You definitely run the risk, if you’re not careful. Thanks for listing the facts.
Thank you for opening our eyes into this life destructive diseases. It’s now for us to yield unto measure to be free from being infected.
With the issue of getting infected with needles which is becoming high now I think one needs to be very careful with the use of needles it can be very dangerous
This is so amazing. I’m so glad I came across this this has been so helpful and educational.
Prevention i always believe is better than cure, if there’s any way to prevent it then we need to avoid such. like sharing of needles should be avoided.
Hepatitis and it’s connection with substance abuse is a very useful information shared here, amazed to know how drugs abuse can make the condition of a hepatitis patients worst.
Thank you for sharing this vital information. I couldn’t believe it that drug addiction can trigger hapetitis c.
Information is powerful. I’ve a friend who is infected by this disease. I’ll definitely share with him how to treat it from this piece of information I got here. Thank you for sharing this
This is very informative. Its true some diseases can come from needles. It’s Great to know these Symptoms so as to take necessary steps if any is noticed in the Body system.
It is good to know the causes and preventions to the disease. I think one needs to be very careful. The use of some illegal drugs can contribute to the deadly liver disease and luckily. Thanks for sharing this video.
It is a very good information about hepatitis C and its effects. We need to be more aware about its hazardous ways of transmission.