Resources » Opioid Use Disorder Resources by Topic » Infectious Diseases

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are closely intertwined with the opioid epidemic, particularly due to the widespread practice of injection drug use among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). The sharing of needles, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia among people who inject opioids significantly increases the risk of transmitting bloodborne infections such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. Furthermore, chronic opioid use can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to various infectious diseases. The opioid epidemic has also exacerbated social determinants of health such as homelessness and poverty, which further contribute to the spread of infectious diseases. Addressing infectious diseases within the context of the opioid epidemic requires comprehensive strategies that focus on harm reduction, access to healthcare services, and addressing social determinants of health to effectively mitigate the transmission of infections and improve health outcomes for individuals affected by OUD.

Infectious Disease Resources

Websites

HCV Current

HCV Current is a national initiative of the ATTC Network to increase hepatitis C (HCV) knowledge among medical and behavioral health professionals.

Risk of Infectious Diseases in Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder

This website from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) underscores the heightened risk of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases, among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Infectious Diseases in Persons Who Inject Drugs

This resource, from the CDC, highlights the intersection of the opioid crisis and infectious diseases among people who inject drugs (PWID), including viral hepatitis, HIV, and bacterial and fungal infections.

Tools & Resources

More resources will be added soon, please check back.

Posters & Infographics

CDC fact sheet on Hepatitis C explains symptoms, testing, and risks from injecting or sharing drug equipment.

Fact Sheets: Hepatitis C & Injection Drug Use

CDC fact sheets (available in English and Spanish) on hepatitis C, covering symptoms, testing, prevention, treatment, how it spreads among people who inject drugs, and the importance of hepatitis A and B vaccination.

Get the Fact Sheets

A CDC poster “No stigma. Just safekeeping.", promoting Hepatitis A and B vaccines for people who inject drugs.

“No Stigma” Poster

Remind clinicians and service providers to avoid unintentionally introducing stigma when talking to patients who inject drugs about hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination.

Download Poster

A CDC poster “You deserve to be healthy.” Urges hepatitis A and B vaccination for those who’ve used or injected drugs.

“You Deserve to Be Healthy” Poster

Remind people who inject drugs that vaccination can protect them from hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

Download Poster

Publications

Guide to Integrating HCV Services into Opioid Treatment Programs

This guide is intended to build the capacity of publicly funded Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) to integrate Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) prevention and treatment services into their programs. The guide may also be useful for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), community and healthcare coalitions, nonprofit organizations and other substance use disorder and HCV treatment providers.

Guide to Integrating Infectious Disease Testing and Treatment Services in Opioid Treatment Programs

This Guide provides insights, examples, and strategies to support OTPs in integrating infectious disease services into behavioral health programming.

TIP 53: Addressing Viral Hepatitis in People With Substance Use Disorders

This manual assists behavioral health professionals who treat people living with substance use disorders in understanding the implications of a hepatitis diagnosis. It discusses screening and referrals, and explains how to evaluate a program's hepatitis practices. Access the literary review.

Advisory: Treatment Substance Use Disorders Among People with HIV

This Advisory is based on TIP 37, Substance Abuse Treatment for Persons With HIV/AIDS. It highlights strategies and considerations for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers to effectively engage people with HIV in SUD treatment.

Webinars & Online Learning

More resources will be added soon, please check back.

Current News & Research

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies Evaluating the Effect of Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder on Infectious Disease Outcomes

McNamara, K. F., Biondi, B. E., Hernández-Ramírez, R. U., Taweh, N., Grimshaw, A. A., & Springer, S. A. (2021). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies Evaluating the Effect of Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder on Infectious Disease Outcomes. Open forum infectious diseases, 8(8), ofab289. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofab289

Integrating Responses to the Opioid Use Disorder and Infectious Disease Epidemics

Springer, S. A., Merluzzi, A. P., & Del Rio, C. (2020). Integrating Responses to the Opioid Use Disorder and Infectious Disease Epidemics: A Report From the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. JAMA, 324(1), 37–38. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2559