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Hepatitis C, prison and Juvenile Justice
How is hepatitis C passed on?
Hepatitis C (or hep C) is only passed on through blood-to-blood contact. This is when the blood of someone with hep C gets into someone else’s blood stream.
The most common ways hep C is passed on is through:
- Sharing needles and syringes, or any drug injecting equipment.
- Backyard and prison tattooing and piercing.
Hepatitis risks in prison or Juvenile Justice
In prison, injecting equipment and tattooing and body piercing equipment is often shared. These end up getting passed around lots of times and so there is a big risk of getting hep C.
Any blood-to-blood contact in prison (such as fighting where there are open cuts and blood) is a higher risk of getting hep C. Sharing personal hygiene items that might have blood on them (such as razors, nail scissors or toothbrushes) could also be a risk for hep C in prison.
What to do if you might have been at risk for hep C
If you think you might have hepatitis C, it’s important to get tested, so you can get cured.
There are excellent hep C treatments available. These treatments:
- Cure over 95% of people
- Have very few side-effects
- Take only 8 or 12 weeks
- Are pills only (no injections)
- Can be prescribed by the health clinic in prison
- Are covered by medicare, so very low cost
- Can be prescribed by local clinics and doctors.
Contact the Hepatitis Infoline or talk to your doctor for more information
Have a question about hep C, prison and juvenile justice? Contact the free Hepatitis Infoline or download one of our free online resources now.
If you feel you are showing any of the symptoms of hep C, please talk to your doctor. Our resources don’t replace advice from a medical professional.
