I am the HIV program manager and have been at Serenity House for over three years. The HIV Program offers education, referrals and free and confidential testing for the clients of Serenity House and other Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASA) agencies. We use the OraSure® test, which is a noninvasive HIV test. This test extracts antibodies from the mucous membranes in the mouth and is not a saliva test. Like a blood test, OraSure® is more than 99% effective in detecting the antibodies to HIV, not the virus itself. While making educational presentations, I see that a lot of clients who are at high-risk for and are interested in getting tested for Hepatitis C.

Chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) is currently a major concern in the medical community. Four million people in the world have been diagnosed with HCV. 12,000 people die annually from HCV. Intravenous drug users (IVDU clients) are at particularly high risk for acquiring and passing on the virus. Heightened alcohol use and alcoholism speed the process of liver damage and hinder HCV treatment. HCV is usually asymptomatic until irreversible liver damage has occurred. It can take a long time - 10, 20, or even 30 years - for symptoms to develop. People who have Hepatitis C are at risk for serious problems over time. They may develop cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Since IVDU clients are at high risk, we are now working with the health department in DuPage County to test these clients for HCV. A representative of the County has been coming out to Serenity House once a month to do on-site testing.

The following are letters from clients who have benefited from this service:

“I think that it is a beautiful thing that you people come here to Serenity House to accommodate the clients. Sometimes clients don’t have money to get to health centers, doctors and so on. Some of us can’t really afford things like time off of work, taxis and things like that. A lot of clients have concerns about their health, but if they don’t have the means, then they don’t see about it. So I am glad that you guys care enough about us to make sure that we are taking care of us. For that I am truly grateful, and so are all the clients here at Serenity House.” —Pete L.

“I am a resident in the Men’s Program at Serenity House. At the end of my first month here I found that I have Hepatitis C. I am grateful to Serenity House for providing free testing and information about the disease. I only wish there were more public funding for the treatment of the disease. Thank you.”—Dan S.

“In the process of getting sober, I went to a doctor for a physical in order to evaluate just how much damage I had caused with my drinking and drug use. The blood test indicated abnormal liver enzyme levels, which prompted more tests. It was at this time that they had found the Hepatitis C Virus. In reality, I had suspected that it was possible that I had been infected in the early 70’s when I had shared needles to inject Heroin. I had been having symptoms for about a year, which were similar to the symptoms experienced by people I knew who had been diagnosed with HCV.

My first reaction to the news was relief since it meant that I would find out how to relieve the symptoms, but then I began to feel concern over the fact that my liver might have been damaged beyond reclamation. When my doctor told me that he would have to take a biopsy of my liver to determine the exact extent of the damage, this added to my concern.

The result of the biopsy was that I had the liver ‘type’ that was the hardest to treat and the damage was a 2 on a scale of 4. The doctor explained that a 3 would mean being placed on the transplant list and a 4 would mean being in the hospital, waiting for a transplant. He recommended starting treatment with Interferon immediately.

At the time, Serenity House was not testing for HCV and it was only because I had a brother who was willing to pay for the doctor’s physical that I found out about my disease. I cringe at the thought of it progressing to a 3 or 4 before I found out.

I have since completed the year long treatment, which has reduced the level of HCV to an undetectable level. The symptoms I had been experiencing have gone away and I am feeling stronger and healthier than I have in years. The doctor’s prognosis is that I will not have any recurring problems.

I am told that the virus can be present for up to 20 years before symptoms begin to be revealed and the earlier it is detected and treated, the better the results. I applaud Serenity House’s desire to add this vital service to its treatment regimen.” —Mike M.

Medications are available to treat the symptoms of chronic Hepatitis C. There is no cure, but the choices of medications are better than a few years ago.

Take these steps to stay healthy:
	Stay informed about Hepatitis C and STD's.
	Avoid contact with other peoples' blood.
	Don’t share needles for illegal drugs, tattooing, taking steroids, piercing or for any
	other reason.
	Don’t share toothbrushes, razors, and other personal articles that could contain blood.
	Don’t use drugs intranasal, as there is possible blood transmission.