Former drug addict urges more to take hepatitis test (From Stroud News and Journal)

Former drug addict urges more to take hepatitis test

12:45pm Thursday 15th October 2009 in News By Nick Wakefield

A FORMER drug addict from Stroud is encouraging more people to get tested for hepatitis C.

Nigel Calvert was 19-years-old when he contracted the virus through intravenous drug use in 2002.

He has lived drug-free since 2004 and now works as an NHS drug and alcohol advocacy worker.

Nigel’s plea is part of the Department of Health’s Get Tested Get Treated campaign for hepatitis C, which launches across the UK this week.

Experts estimate that only half of the 200,000 people in the UK infected with the virus have actually been diagnosed, as it can often lie undetected and symptomless for 20 years or more.

Currently the most common cause of transmission is through the shared use of drug-taking equipment, although the Government is warning that you may also be at risk if you have had a blood transfusion before September 1991 or received blood products before 1986 in the UK.

Other less common ways of contracting the virus is through unprotected sex, tattooing or body piercing and medical or dental treatment abroad where unsterile equipment may have been used.

Another cause of infection is through the shared use of razors or toothbrushes that may have been contaminated with blood from someone who is infected.

Before visiting their GP, people concerned that they may have hepatitis C are advised to self-assess themselves using the NHS Choices website www.nhs.uk/hepc or by calling a free and confidential information line on 0800 181 4114.