DRUG addicts in Blackburn face a viral epidemic unless they start following the advice being offered to them by experts, according to a Lancashire drugs worker.

Kath Talboys, of the Lancashire Drugline, believes HIV and AIDS is on the decline, but now East Lancashire's heroin-taking population faces a new problem, hepatitis C.

Kath said hepatitis C leads to damage of the liver with the possibility of liver cancer developing.

The fear is that addicts will infect each other with the illness through spoons and filters used in the preparation of some drugs.

Kath told the Citizen: "Needle exchange services and excellent health lessons have taught drug-users to sensible with needles, and fewer people share them than ten years ago.

"However, there is a great fear that hepatitis C will continue to spread because it can be transmitted a lot easier through the sharing of spoons and filters."

Kath added: "At the moment we can say we have a very low percentage of addicts suffering from HIV, but we have yet to get to grips with the hepatitis C problem."

She said it was not the stereotyped heroin user they needed to target, but married or close couples and working people who are not always targeted by health organisations.

"Couples who are sleeping together and sharing everything together seem to think they are safe to share needles and spoons," she added.

"We today have a sophisticated drug-taking population in this country, but there is still ignorance surrounding hepatitis C and the use of instruments other than needles."

Kath pointed to the fact that drug services in Manchester were now offering spoon and filter exchange services in addition to needle exchange services.

"It is a case of catering for the needs of the drug-taking population, and hepatitis is our main concern."

NHS Health Trust CommuniCare, through its East Lancashire Drugs Team, has invited a network of GPs to join a scheme in which drug users visit their local doctor who can give advice and prescribe injecting equipment. A needle swap service is also run at the Jarmen Centre in James Street, Blackburn, and is open daily. Information is available from Drug Line on (01772) 825492.

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