Fentanyl Use Linked to Hepatitis C Transmission

New Study Provides Evidence of Association

Researchers from UC San Diego and el Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Mexico

A new study published in the journal "JAMA Network Open" provides the first evidence that illicit fentanyl use may play a role in hepatitis C transmission. The study was conducted by an international team of researchers from University of California San Diego and el Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Mexico.

The researchers examined data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Tijuana, Mexico, a city with high rates of both illicit fentanyl use and hepatitis C infection. They found that people who reported using fentanyl were significantly more likely to have hepatitis C than those who did not use fentanyl. This association was independent of other risk factors for hepatitis C, such as injection drug use and homelessness.

"Our study provides the first evidence that illicit fentanyl use may play a role in hepatitis C transmission," said Dr. Steffanie Strathdee, a professor of medicine at UC San Diego and the senior author of the study. "This is a concerning finding, as fentanyl use is increasing in many parts of the world, and hepatitis C is a serious disease that can lead to liver damage and liver cancer."

The researchers say that their findings highlight the need for further research to investigate the link between fentanyl use and hepatitis C transmission. They also say that public health efforts should be increased to reduce fentanyl use and to provide hepatitis C testing and treatment for people who are at risk for the infection.