THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE WAR ON DRUGS ON PUBLIC HEALTH: THE HIDDEN HEPATITIS C EPIDEMIC

The Global Commission on Drug Policy

The purpose of The Global Commission on Drug Policy is to bring to the international level an informed, science-based discussion about humane and effective ways to reduce the harm caused by drugs to people and societies.https://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/

2013The Negative Impact Of The War On Drugs On Public Health: The Hidden Hepatitis C Epidemic

The hepatitis C epidemic fueled by the “war on drugs” is sweeping amongst injecting drug users around the world, yet continues to be largely ignored. Access to preventive services is far too low and diagnosis and treatment are too expensive and inaccessible for most people in need. The report provides an overview of the hepatitis C virus, while exploring how the ‘war on drugs’ and repressive drug policies are failing to drive transmission down. Hepatitis C is one of the harms caused by repressive drug policies, yet it s both preventable and curable when public health is the focus.