I agree there are indeed many good points in this discussion and hopefully it will continue. Regardless of the bad rap this article portrays on all people with Hep C, I suppose any discussion is better than none at all. After the initial shock of being diagnosed with Hep C, the stigma does become secondary, as it must. One begins to focus on survival and learns to deal with the stigma and ignorance the overall general public has regarding this disease. That stigma is primarily a result of articles such as the one Mr. Lewis wrote here. However, I DO NOT agree with a needle exchange program. Clearly, people using illegal drugs are not thinking about safety. I believe the chance they will in fact exchange a syringe/needle after only one use is largely remote at best; and to think they might exchange a needle after it will no longer penetrate skin? Do you honestly believe they have some stack of needles wherever they live that need exchanged, like they're participating some kind of recycling program? Most likely those needles will be tossed somewhere, in a dumpster, the gutter, a bush in a garden, somewhere and anywhere to get it off their person to avoid arrest. Needles are not illegal; needles with residual drugs in the syringe on a person with "tracks" will get one arrested. Their minds are focused on the next fix, not on public safety. The damage has already taken place, and it still has the potential to infect yet another person who unknowingly gets stuck by that randomly tossed needle. The illegal drug users who do in fact turn in a used up, useless needle: whoopee for them, here's a brand new needle to pass around. I don't mean to be rude, but giving a person using illegal drugs a new needle so they can continue to use and will most likely share that needle with their "friends" is naïve at best. ANYONE can walk into any Walgreen's and for a very low cost buy a bag of needles; there are no regulations in place to restrict the sale of syringes/needles. This task force needs to focus on the source of the drugs and the source of needles, rather than stats on Hep C. Put regulations into place that will make a person buying needles retail prove medical need or refuse the sale. At one point, I injected myself with vitamin B-12 and hormones and I always used a new needle each time. #1, it hurt less, #2, I could purchase the needles retail without any problem whatsoever, and #3 I could afford to buy them. So again I will say, don't write articles about illegal IV drug users and/or Hep C until you have ALL THE FACTS STRAIGHT. It is reckless and has the effect: one step forward, two steps back. Drug "pushers", drug users, syringes and hepatitis c are all separate issues and need to be addressed as such rather than dumped into a group as though if one of these issues is resolved, they all will be resolved.

Now we have part two to the story that doesn't mention HCV at all.

http://portsmouth-dailytimes.com/view/full_story/6413067/article-International-Firm-Awarded-ODH-Contract?instance=home_news_lead

We understand the demographics and data supplied by the Health Dept. What we are upset about is the story refers to Hepatitis patients as a whole as IV drug users. The Global Viral Hepatitis issue is far worse than Scioto Counties drug problem, and an article about awareness and education of the epidemic needs to be included. For far too long, HCV infected people have been outcasts of society and treated by the CDC and FDA like a dirty little secret they can just sweep under the carpet. Well, much research has been done for nearly every other type of illness. How much do you know about Hepatitis C? How much do you think the average reader of the Portsmouth Daily Times knows? Education is power, and the public deserves to learn how severe the HCV problem is throughout the world and in the United States. Especially in Southern Ohio.

Instead of debating an article, one needs to be properly written. One that included all the facts. I'm challenging the Portsmouth Daily Times to write such an article. Is it too much trouble to write something useful for a change? Perhaps you could get an article from another paper in a large city that accurately expresses the vital information and get permission to publish it?

I would like to start by stating that you are all correct. The article relating to Tampa, Florida is sad and that clinic should be closed. Also, my heart goes out to the Vietnam Veterans. However, I believe this article is addressing Scioto County and the rate of Hepatitis C over the last 10 years. Particularly, if you contact the health department and obtain the demographics of whom is contracting Hepatitis C in Scioto county, you will see that a majority of new cases are for individuals in there 20's and 30's. None of those persons participated in the Vietnam War or were patients at the clinic in Tampa. Most of those individuals, if they are honest enough, will admit to IV drug abuse.

I strongly believe a needle exchange program and good public education can curb the rate of new cases of Hepatitis C. Furthermore, they need to close the "pill mills" which exist in our area. I wish the new task force the best of luck and hope they accomplish their goals. Most of all I am happy that these issues are being talked about and debated.

ya know this article irritates me and this publication needs to make a huge public apology for it and correct it's misconceptions. if you all have a drug problem in this county, do something about the drug problem. dragging hepatitis c into this is riduculous. it leads people to believe it is the only way a person can become infected with this virus and that simply is not the case. as i said below, many countries still do not have proper sterilization techniques, INCLUDING THE USA. Many clinics hospitals and treatment centers have improperly trained personnel using their autoclave equipment (cha ching!), if they have that equipment at all in the first place. further, the greedy doctors right here in the good ole USA reuse a lot syringes and other equipment prior to proper sterilization (again cha ching!). I highly recommend to EVERYONE, if you go to the doctor you better well be sure the syringe, tubing and all other "disposable" materials are coming out of an UNOPENED PACKAGE. Make sure the nurse, doc or tech are wearing gloves and if they are not, refuse to allow them to touch you! Take control of your own health, because i guarantee NO ONE cares and there is no recourse. Once it's done, it's done. The almighty dollar rules people, you're health is secondary.

I have an idea for the Daily-Times. Why not research Hepatitis C and do a in depth article all about viral hepatitis? If one person in twelve are infected, shouldn't more people know about this? There are plenty of Hepatitis C awareness groups and websites you could get information and facts from.

I think the Portsmouth Daily-Times just opened a can of worms, and they owe it to their readers to do a story about the Worldwide Hepatitis C Epidemic. We deserve to read factual stories, not just one sided opinions.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/18/brandon-clinics-patients-warned-hepatitis-c-outbre/news-breaking/

I rest my case.

One in 12 people are infected with Hep C. Many of us never have been IV drug users. In 40% of all cases it remains unknown how the disease was contracted. I probably had Hep c for 20 years before I knew I was sick. The stigma of the disease left me embarrassed to share my experience. I probably contracted the disease in the hospital in the 80's but I will never know for sure. Now I speak out to try to educate people about this horrible disease. Looks like the author of this article could use some education. Please visit the World Hepatitis Alliance, Hepatitis Central, or simply google it for correct information.

START A NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM!!! EVERYONE IS IGNORING THE ELEPHANT IN SCIOTO COUNTY.

Hepatitis C in the news: ABOUT TIME!!! Saying Hepatitis C is primarily the result of IV drug use: WRONG!!! 69% of vietnam vets have hep c as a result of being lined up and innoculated with the same needle/syringe. Remember back in grade school, all the kids lined up in the cafeteria to be innoculated? You think hep c didn't exist then, well it did! At the time it was called non a/b hepatitis. To think none of us were infected getting those shots for polio is ridiculous and naive! 40,000 people just last year were exposed to hep c in Las Vegas NV due to reuse of syringes, cheap gastro doctor. 99 cancer patients in New York dx with hep c in 2003 or thereabouts, because their ONCOLOGIST was too cheap to replace syringes! Now they get to have cancer and hep c! 4 patients in Chicago IL received organs from a hep c donor, this was also in early 2000's. What sterilization? What screening? It is selective at EVERY medical facility. They do what they can with what they have to work with, and if funds are low, I am pretty sure sterilization is also low. Altho I commend you on your article and the exposure it brings to this horrid disease that kills 500,000 people every year, for you to print that it is a result of IV drug use is irresponsible and reprehensible. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT. Please do keep reporting on this disease, but please do not put the stigma on this disease that you and so many others have done in the past. It is acquired in many ways, improper sterilization still exists in many countries, the hep c virus can live outside the body for FOUR DAYS. Think about that long and hard before you continue this druggie stigma, it simply isn't the WHOLE truth. Shame on you.

Your recent story on Hepatitis C should read, ”Are you one of the twelve people infected with viral Hepatitis?” Get yourself tested to find out. According to the World Hepatitis Alliance, one out of twelve people in the world is living with chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C. Saying that drug abuse is the number one cause of people being infected with Hepatitis C is just wrong. While Hepatitis is far more common than HIV or any cancer, awareness is inexplicably low and the majority of those infected are unaware. The numbers extend far past Scioto County and its drug problem. Hepatitis is normally discovered by routine blood tests, and the infected person isn’t always a drug user. A lot of people were once infected by blood transfusions. But before proper sterilization techniques were in place, many people were also infected by routine visits to the dentist or by having general surgery. Medical personnel have also been infected by accidentally sticking themselves with a needle, or other forms of blood contact. Hepatitis is a virus and can be contracted by anyone. Your story saying Hepatitis is only due to drug usage is wrong. This casts a bad light on those who are not IV drug users who have been infected. In addition, it cannot be spread by shaking hands, hugging, kissing, eating food prepared by an infected person or any other normal activity. There has to be actual blood to blood contact to spread the virus. Anybody could be infected by Hepatitis. Everybody should be tested! Usually it isn’t detected until the condition is acute or chronic. Sometimes it could be in your blood over 20 years before it is detected. It can damage your liver and cause Cirrhosis. Although, there isn’t a cure, there is treatment. Many people have cleared the virus out of their system by using a combination of antiviral drugs and Interferon shots. While this may not be a cure for all people, it does help others and work is being done developing new treatments like protease inhibitors that reduce the virus. The Times needs to be more responsible when reporting important stories about worldwide health epidemics.

"The illicit narcotic use needs to be stopped and stopped now with zero tolerance."

You can't be serious with that statement you made above. How the heck do you plan on doing that? Any suggestions? The "illicit narcotic" use will never stop. Ever!

This is most likely the most important article written in many years. Bringing forth information that may well affect every family in our county. Thank you Mr. Lewis and thank you Portsmouth Daily Times.

Since 1977 I have worked with over 36,000 veterans in Ohio. Many of those veterans have acquired hepatitis either A,B, undifferentated, or now C. Most were from blood transfusions, or contact with blood while attending to wounded on the field of combat. Those are situations that just happen to be a problem of war.

To acquire hepatitis due to dirty needles is totally uncalled for. Then the carriers spread hepatitis as well as a sexually transmitted disease, it may well spread even further.

Hepatitis C is a killer, I have worked with clients and watched their health dwindle to a terrible consequence. The illicit narcotic use needs to be stopped and stopped now with zero tolerance.

Dave Barker

AMVETS Service Officer