Substance use disorders are common in the United States, with 2024 data indicating that more than 1 in 4 (25.5%) of persons 12 years of age or older used an illicit drug in the past year. The availability of highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications has radically changed the assessment and consideration of substance use, and more specifically opioid use, in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment decisions. This 90-minute webinar will provide an overview of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), including a focus on defining key epidemiological aspects, contrasting recent treatment advancements, and evaluating the integration of HCV testing and treatment into medications for addiction treatment (MAT) programs and opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Attendees will learn practical strategies to improve HCV management and enhance patient outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify at least three (3) key aspects of the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV), including its transmission, prevalence, and at-risk populations.
- Explain at least two (2) recent advances in hepatitis C treatment, highlighting the differences and advantages of each treatment approach.
- Describe at least two (2) benefits of integrating hepatitis C testing and treatment into MAT and OTP care settings.
Presented by: Beth A. Rutkowski, MPH
Beth is the Director of Training and Epidemiologist for the UCLA Integrated Substance Use and Addiction Programs (ISAP) in the Division of Addiction Psychiatry. She is also the Co-Director for the Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (HHS Region 9).
Continuing Education Units: 1.5 CEU
This training is approved for continuing education by the boards listed here.
Funding for this activity was made possible in whole or in part by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director’s Office through the Fund for a Resilient Nevada, established in Nevada Revised Statutes 433.712 through 433.744. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in our courses are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence or its funders.