Pubdate: Wed, 27 Sep 2006
Source: Evening Times (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited
Contact:  http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3252

CALL FOR ADDICTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE SILENT KILLER

DRUG experts in Glasgow today called for #4million to  tackle 
Hepatitis C to be spent on educating drug  addicts.

They insisted the funding package announced by the  Executive must be 
spent wisely if rates of 'Scotland's  silent killer' were to be cut.

Figures revealed that an estimated 20,000 people in the  Glasgow area 
suffered from the deadly virus - 11,000 of  whom had no idea they had 
contracted it.

Yesterday, as reported in the Evening Times, Scottish  Health 
Minister Andy Kerr announced the new funding to  tackle the 'silent 
killer' he said was most common  among drug users who shared needles.

Today Parkhead GP Dr Tom Gilhooley, who advises the  Executive on 
drug abuse, said it was imperative the  money was used on educating 
people at risk from the  infection, which attacks the liver.

"Most people are now wise to needle sharing and I don't  think that 
is so much of a problem. What they are doing  is sharing all the 
other paraphernalia such as filters  and water and spoons.

"People need to know how to look after themselves. They  can survive 
having the virus as long as they're not  taking loads of alcohol and drugs.

"Some of the money could most definitely be put to  education. I see 
a lot of people who have had Hepatitis  C for years and continue to 
take alcohol and their  systems really take a hammering."

Claire Morris, coordinator of C-Level, a voluntary  organisation set 
up specifically to address the  Hepatitis C problem, echoed Dr 
Gilhooley's comments  about the need for greater education.

"The only way to prevent the spread of this is to  educate people and 
that is one of the things we are  heavily involved in.

"We recruit ex-drug users and get them to speak to  current drug 
users. That kind of 'peer education' is  more effective at getting 
the message across."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine