Transmission Magazine ED21

edition

21

NOV 2015

Treat me right

TAKE the

survey

AND YOU COULD

win $50

PART ONE hey, you must be my new neighbour.

I live next doO r in 402.

COME ON, SAMSON. HURrY UP.

I WAS WONDERING WHEN I’D BUMP INTO YOU.

I’m parisa. it’s nice to meEt you. welcome to the building.

I’m lucky. it’s nice to meEt you toO. and this is samson.

woO f!

welL isn’t he just how are the cutest you finding litTle guy. moving in? isn’t moving house just the worst?

normalLy, yeah.

But I’m moving out of a share-house into my own place for the first time so I’m pretTy excited.

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Sharehouses are Okay I take it back, totalLy the worst! moving house is the second worst.

Yeah, the one I was in was pretTy… hectic. people coming and going alL the time.

Oh, I know exactly what you mean. I’ve beE n in places like that before. But this building is pretTy quiet thankfulLy.

Except on the first Friday of every month I have a margarita night.

Yes, I do.

Not as much as I used to, but I do...

Oh? Why is that? if you don’t mind me asking? I realise now that I say it that it might be a rude question.

OoO h!

That’s this weE k! You should totalLy come along! And bring Samson!

we drink Margaritas and watch fun movies.

This month it’s The PrincesS Bride.

Everyone would love to meEt him.

And you toO of course!

Wait, do you drink?

No, I don’t mind at alL . I have always beE n a party kind of guy. But with the new apartment I figure now is a goO d time as any to make positive changes in my life.

I’m not going to become boring, but I’m just going to start drinking in a more healthy way.

Plus I got Hepatitis C when I was in my wild party days, so cutTing down on my drinking wilL be goO d for my health.

Oh, okay.

Do you have many health problems from that?

not realLy, surprisingly enough. it’s something I’ve beE n living with for twenty years.

I guesS I had some flare ups of poO r health, but that was usualLy when I used drugs or drank toO much.

So I reckon that won’t be a problem now.

New apartment, new life.

Awesome!

That’s a great way to be. WelL if you want to come round we usualLy start about 8 o’clock on Friday.

speaking of healthinesS, I should go on this jog! I’lL talk to you later. it’s great to meEt you!

it’s great to meEt you, toO.

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welL samson, what do you think?

She was pretTy nice wasn’t she?

yeah, I think so toO. I think we’re going to like living here, mate.

this is the last box, sam. pretTy sure this has your liver treats in it.

a liver treat. hmMm. maybe I should treat my liver.

woO f!

What do you reckon mate.

Should I go the whole hog like RidDler did?

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Should I treat my Hep C with Interferon and Ribavirin and everything?

Why don’t we go to Newcastle to seE RidDler?

SeE what he thinks…

are you ready to seE ridDler?

newcastle. the next day.

it’s beE n almost two weE ks.

Lucky! it’s beE n toO long! I don’t get to seE you enough since I moved to Newcastle.

Samson, are you stilL hanging around with this loser?

it’s goO d to seE you toO, RidDler!

how about you and I go down to the beach to throw around a FrisbeE? lucky can come toO, if he wants.

woO f!

5

later that day... what’s that?

I was wanting to talk to you about something.

WelL , I’ve beE n thinking a lot lately. The new apartment and the changes I’ve beE n I’m making in thinking about my life. the stigma of having hep C.

hepatitis.

what about it?

Did I ever telL you about that dentist? no. what dentist?

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Stigma?

When have you ever encountered stigma from your hep C?

Not long after I contracted Hep C I went to the dentist.

UnN -hmM .

it says on the form you filLed in that you have Hepatitis C, is that corR ect?

No doubt you contracted it from injecting drug use. he was realLy rude about the whole thing.

WelL , your poO r life choices mean that I have to take extra precautions that make this whole procesS more difFicult.

And just to adD insult to injury, he had his hands in my mouth the whole time.

I couldn’t say anything in my own defence.

UghH h, frngh blL yurR r dinN ng heaghH h

And he was asking questions he had no businesS asking.

I supPose you also have unprotected sex with multiple partners?

WhughH?

dentists and doctors should take universal precautions with everyone. using difFerent or adDitional precautions for patients with hepatitis c is unNecesSary.

CONTINUED PAGE 14

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NEW TREATMENTS for hep c It’s a really exciting time for people living with hep C at the moment. There’s new treatments being approved and it's very likely we'll be able to get them soon.

These treatments are not available to us because they're not yet on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in Australia yet. A medication being on the PBS means that people in Australia can get it cheaply. It will be less than $10 per month if you have a health care card.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has already recommended that the government put these drugs on the PBS. This means that they may be listed on the PBS very soon.

8 8 8

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Tell me about the new treatments!

The time you will need to take the new medications may be much shorter than if you used the current treatments. You may only need to take the new drugs for 8, 12 or 24 weeks. This depends on your hep C genotype (the strain of hep C you have) and your level of fibrosis (which is the amount of damage your liver has). It also depends on whether you have had treatment before and how your body responded then.

The current treatments that you can get right now are interferon-based treatments. They include a drug called interferon. Most of the new treatments do not contain interferon. As a result they have far fewer side effects. The new treatments (sometimes called direct acting antivirals or DAAs) are far easier to take. They are just one or a few pills a day depending on the combination of drugs.

The new treatments for hep C have a success rate of between 90% and 99%. This will depend on your genotype and what treatments you've done before.

How do I access these new treatments?

When the new treatments are on the PBS, you’ll access them by getting a referral letter from your doctor. Then you’ll make a booking to see a hepatitis C specialist.

You can call the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 990 or by pressing 3 on the common calls list from prison to get the number of a hepatitis C specialist. We also have a list on our website at www.hep.org.au.

The specialist will tell you which treatment options are best for you.

When will I be cured?

You may hear treatment that works referred to as ‘cure’ or ‘SVR’, which stands for ‘Sustained Viral Response’. This means that someone has had treatment that has cleared the hep C virus from their body.

If a blood test called a PCR test can’t find any hep C virus in your blood (which is called "PCR undetectable") 24 weeks after treatment ends then you are generally considered to be cured.

Some clinics have moved to testing for SVR 12 weeks after your treatment ends.

It’s important to keep in mind that if hep C has really damaged your liver, clearing the virus might not mean you are healthy again all of a sudden. There may still be liver damage from hep C and you may need ongoing check-ups and care. Also, even if you clear hep C, you can still get it again if you’re exposed to the virus again.

Talk to your doctor or health care worker about what ‘cure’ should mean for you. *These pages adapted from a fact sheet reviewed by Hepatitis NSW with special input from A/Profs Simone Strasser and Greg Dore.

More information is on www.hep.org.au and will be updated when new treatments become available.

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R m r a h e h t Ask

Dear Harm Reduction Lady,

I’ve been trying to quit drinking because I’ve been told it’s bad for my liver. I find it impossible to give up and I keep going back to drinking alcohol. What can I do to look after myself and my hep C when it comes to alcohol?

Frank Dear Frank, The answer to “how much alcohol is too much” is different for each person.

When alcohol gets in the way of things you value, that is too much. This could be your health, your job, or your relationships. Harm reduction means making choices around alcohol that have fewer bad outcomes.

Hep C does mean you have to be careful with alcohol, but this might not mean no drinking at all. If you find out how alcohol is affecting you, you can take steps to reduce harm from drinking. These harms could be a bigger risk of liver damage or problems with your medication.

Your doctor can do tests to see how your liver is coping with alcohol and hep C. (Like viral load tests, liver function tests and fibroscans.) The tests will help you choose whether to reduce or stop your drinking.

First: set a goal for your drinking. It should be a “right now” goal. You might change your goal later – that's OK. Set one for right now for the moment. It might be safer drinking, less drinking, or quitting drinking completely.

To get yourself going, work out the pros and cons of not changing anything. Then work out the pros and cons of your goal.

You can write these down or talk them through with someone you trust. This might be a counsellor (like the ones at

10

Hepatitis NSW) or a peer support worker.

You might choose to keep drinking, but try to drink in a safer and healthier way.

Here are some tips to help you do that: ➲➲ Pick a buddy who will stick with you when you drink. Pick someone who will help you stick to your goals.

You can keep each other safe when drinking so you don’t do anything dangerous. Your buddy might be someone who is also trying to cut down or quit drinking. You can support each other in your choices. ➲➲ Know what a standard drink is. The drinks in pubs or bottle-os can be bigger. It’s easier to keep to the drinking guidelines if you know how much is in your glass (check out http://bit.ly/standardDrinks). It's important to avoid binge drinking, or drinking too many standard drinks at one time. ➲➲ You can choose to drink only at home. Or you could set a drink limit for when you drink outside the home.

This could help you avoid worries around transport or dealing with other people . ➲➲ Or you can choose to drink only in bars and not drink at home. This can help you limit your drinking to ‘special occasions’. It can also help reduce the settings in which you drink. Decide which option works best for you.

y d a L n o i t c Redu ➲➲ Plan your transport before you drink.

Walking or using public transport is the smarterst option. Planning in advance can make sure you’re not tempted to drink and drive.

➲➲ Always carry condoms. One night stands might not be your thing, but they can happen when people are drunk. Carrying condoms can help you avoid STIs and more. ➲➲ Be really careful mixing alcohol with prescription medications or illicit drugs. Mixing alcohol with other drugs that are depressants (like benzos or opiates) can depress your breathing. This can lead to overdose and death. You may also find it harder to judge your tolerance if you drink when taking drugs. Alcohol can mix with prescription medications or other drugs in really nasty ways.

each week can be a lot easier.

Alcohol-free days can help you cut back on the total amount you drink. You can slowly increase your alcohol-free days if you want to.

➲➲ When you drink, have a nonalcoholic drink like water or juice after each alcoholic drink. This is a good way to stop you getting dehydrated. It can also help you drink more slowly and keep you from drinking too much too fast. ➲➲ Look after your liver. This might mean treating your hep C to stop further liver damage. Talk to your doctor or liver clinic about tests that can tell you how your liver is coping.

You can also talk to your doctor or the people on the Hepatitis Infoline to help you decide about treatment.

➲➲ Set limits. It's easier to set limits for how much you'll drink per session and per week, rather than just saying you'll "drink less". The health department suggests no more than two drinks a day. Be realistic and don’t beat yourself up if you fail. ➲➲ Add alcohol-free days. You may find it too hard to stop drinking completely. But choosing to have a few alcohol-free days *"Harm reduction" refers to all the work done by groups, workers and peers to reduce the harms of drug use to people who use drugs.

This column is based on How to Change Your Drinking: a Harm Reduction Guide to Alcohol by peer-led support group HAMS and If You Drink Alcohol and Have Hep C or HIV Read This by the Harm Reduction Coalition.

stock image ©2004-2015 xiao-stock.

Not the Harm Reduction Lady herself.

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Should I start treatment?

There are lots of things to think about before going on treatment.

There are reasons to go on treatment now and there are also reasons to wait until later.

What are the reasons to start treatment?

Hep C treatment can cure your hep C. This is called ‘clearing’ hep C. Treatments are quicker and cure more people than they used to.

If your hep C has been making you feel sick, clearing your hep C can make you feel well again and your liver will be healthier.

You might have reached a good time in your life for treatment. This could be: - feeling good about yourself, - being positive about the future, - or having support around you from family and friends.

If your liver already has a lot of damage, it might be best to go on treatment now. * These pages from Hep C Treatment: Is Treatment For Me? by Hepatitis NSW. To order this and other easy-read resources, go to www.hep.org.au/resource-library/

12

CuRe

What are the reasons not to start treatment now?

Hep C treatment doesn’t always cure you of hep C.

6 - 12

monTHs

monTHs

Hep C treatment can take a while.

It usually takes about 6-12 months to finish treatment.

For some people there are side effects to hep C treatments. They could make you: - feel like you have the flu, - depressed and moody, - feel tired or have sleep problems.

This can make it hard to work and do other things like look after a family.

If you or your partner are planning on having a baby soon you can't go on treatment.

There will be new treatments in the next few years.

These treatments will be quicker and have less side effects. If your liver isn’t badly damaged, you might want to wait until the new treatments are ready.

neW

Talk to your doctor, nurse or clinic to help you decide if you are ready for treatment.

13

PART TWO apParently he had beE n ripPing ofF customers, or overcharging them or something.

so? that’s it? did you ever go back to him?

Stigma So it was one Everyone and discrimination dentist, that you comes acrosS can have a huge went to once, and he got his jerks from time efFect on people, but to time. that doesn’t seEm comeupPance like a big deal anyway. to me.

no, though I did seE him once again a few years later on tv.

welL , there was also the first time I told my sister I had hep c.

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but she was being a pain in the neck right out of the gate.

I calLed her up to let her know. hey claire, how’s my favourite sister doing today?

nope. no you don’t.

Don’t give me that “favourite sister” crap. mum already told me. How could you be so stupid?

She had a lot of pre-conceived notions about drug users that she got from work.

I’d told mum the day before I calLed Claire, and apParently mum had already told her. it’s not about being smart or stupid, claire. it can hapPen to anyone.

I’ve seE n the drug users that come in to the pharmacy for methadone and the neE dle and syringe program.

You’re smarter than them, Lucky.

You’re betTer than them. Or you should be.

some pretTy mesSed up views, to be honest.

and then she got realLy nasty.

that’s not fair to your customers, claire. they’re people toO. nobody is betTer than anybody else. we’re alL just people. you ought to know that.

oh man, I didn’t even think I have about the kids.

I’m not sure to protect I’m comfortable them.

I don’t you loO king after know what I’d the kids on your do if they were own anymore. infected.

15

later she told me she didn’t she changed want me around her mind, but I didn’t know the kids that at the anymore. time. claire, you can’t do that. I’m no danger to those kids.

I love them. I’d protect them with my life.

I don’t know if she realises how much she hurt me that first phone calL .

I tried to hide it from her.

I didn’t even telL her that hep c can’t be pasSed on that way.

okay, claire. I can do that, if that’s what you want from me.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alone.

I’ve got to Go. I’lL calL you in a few days.

16

I don’t know what she was thinking. when you come here to eat, you’re going to have to bring your own knives and forks. so the kids don’t end up acCidentalLy using the same ones.

to have my own sister treat me like I was difFerent because of a health condition.

I just have to loO k after my kids, lucky. they mean everything to me.

she was so cold, so distant.

okay. bye.

that I was somehow... unclean.

I know claire isn’t like that.

I wanted to ask you about it, because I know you’ve beE n through the treatment yourself.

So that’s why I’m thinking of going on treatment

No, not anymore she isn’t. But that was And it the way she was has beE n the first time I hanging over told her. my head for A long time.

Yeah, Your sister people can got betTer and be horR ible.

Any stigma you had a jerk I’ve had my I know. at alL can be own bad experience for a dentist. hard on people’s with stigma over the mental health, but years. but if that’s lots of people the worst you’ve beE n have it far worse through you should than you*. consider yourself very fortunate.

*Discrimination is a serious isSue that afFects people’s health and can deter people from testing for hep C or acCesSing treatment and care.

if you want to go on the treatment you should be very sure that it is what you want to do.

you should be doing it because it’s the best thing for you, not for anybody else.

But you shouldn’t be doing it because of what anyone else thinks of you.

because that’s the only thing that is going to get you through it.

trust me, going through the treatment is no picnic.

what do you mean?

17

and threE tablets of ribavirin twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. welL for genotype 3* there’s which is what a once a weE k I had, it’s a 24 injection of weE k course of interferon in treatment. the belLy. So you’lL be doing it for the betTer part of a year.

There are difFerent genotypes or strains of hepatitis C. The genotype you have wilL determine what treatment options are available to you. Your doctor can find out your genotype with a PCR test (bloOd test).

there are side-efFects toO. I lost alL and that was tough, my hair. let me telL you.

and I became deE ply depresSed. Not to mention the anxiety. it was overwhelming.

18

the hair already made and then me feE l selfI got a rash conscious. toO. I felt hideous.

I became very isolated.

I saw very few people that year.

having said that, I’m incredibly grateful that I had the opPortunity to go through it.

it helps to know you got through it okay.

I don’t know I’d say I got through it okay, but I got through it.

and I’m even more grateful that it worked.

it sounds like quite the ordeal.

I feE l it was worth it, but I want to make sure you understand that it was hard to do.

it’s not that bad for everyone, but there’s no way of predicting whether you’lL get no sideefFects or alL of them.

for a lot of people, it’s not a walk in the park. or a day at the beach.

but I’m out the other side now.

I feE l like I realLy acComplished something.

I did the best posSible thing for my health, in spite of how hard it was.

if you’re going to do it, you neE d to be 100% comM itTed and aware of how hard it might be.

And you’lL neE d the supPort of the people who love you to make it through.

I guesS I’ve got a lot to think about.

yeah, you do.

19

later that day...

if I’m going to do this, I had betTer be sure.

so what do you think, samson?

for the first time in my life, I’d say the pieces are alL in place for me to be the able to treat my stars have hepatitis. aligned.

but... betweE n you me and the walLs, I’m a litTle bit scared. and I’m going to neE d your supPort toO, samson. what do you say? would you help me with moral supPort?

what’s the matTer, budD y?

Cat got your tongue?

20

the next day. claire’s house.

Say no more. You’ve got alL the supPort I can give you.

that’s about the long and the short of it. I’m thinking about getTing the treatment, but I know it could be hard.

So the reason I’m telLing you alL this…it might be hard.

RealLy hard. And I’m not sure I’lL be able to get through it without your supPort.

You know, I’ve beE n thinking a lot lately about how I acted the first time you told me about your hepatitis.

No, no it isn’t.

There’s no Working excuse for the at a pharmacy way I acted.

I tend to...detach myself from the patients that come in.

it’s okay, sis.

I’m very sorRy I acted the way I did.

it’s something that a lot of health care workers do.

We distance ourselves from patients until they become nothing more than machines to be fixed, as though we are mechanics.

you remember that realLy bad dentist I told you about?

yes?

I was telLing RidDler about him. I guesS he probably had the same thing. He stopPed thinking about his patients as people.

Yes, exactly.

But there’s no excuse for it.

You went to him to be cared for as a patient and you were harmed instead.

it’s something I’ve beE n trying very hard not to do to my customers, but I can’t believe I ever did it to you. My brother.

I’m sorRy. apology acCepted.

21

alL I can say is that you must be a betTer pharmacist with this new atTitude of yours. and a betTer sister.

There are Don’t let new treatments WelL , judgemental on the way that have And I’lL speaking of people make you a higher cure rate be here for being a betTer feE l bad, and don’t let and fewer side you no matTer I’m here the bad experiences pharmacist and sister, efFects.* what.

I have tried to keE p influence you. to supPort You should up to date on you. definitely go and treatments for talk to your doctor hepatitis C. about your options.

Things may not be as hard for you as they were for RidDler.

New treatments for hep C have beE n apP roved for use in Australia, but are not yet available on the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme (PBS). it is now up to the government to provide funding for these treatments so that they are available to people living with hep C in Australia.

thanks, sis.

22

You neE d to make the treatment choices that are right for you.

anytime. you’re family.

friday, 7:55pm.

but no decisions tonight, my boy.

So now I can make a decision, Samson.

I’ve got everything I neE din my life for the first time to give me the freE dom to get my hepatitis treated.

Ah-ha!

Here it is.

This is the only kind of decision for me tonight, Samson.

bad decisions in a botTle! the main ingredient for margaritas.

but the real question is...

so what do you say, boy? shalL we go meEt the neighbours?

inconceivable!

...can I make it through the entire showing of The PrincesS Bride without quoting my favourite lines as they hapPen?

THE END

23

24

picture b

picture a spot 7 differences between pictures a&b

1) The lamp is gone 2) There is no coaster for Claire 3) Claire and Lucky have swapped the colour of their clothing 4) Lucky's mug has changed colour 5) The painting behind the couch has changed 6) The Eiffel tower is a different colour 7) The Family Portrait on the wall is now white

the difference

crossword

Across 4. Hepatitis B and C are viruses that attack the _____.

5. A _______ is a scan (kind of like an ultrasound) that lets doctors see how damaged your liver is.

8. Up to 25% of people who are exposed to hepatitis C will _____ the virus and not develop ongoing hepatitis C. 9. You can get new injecting equipment from the ___ to prevent transmission of hepatitis C. 11. If you are diagnosed with ongoing hepatitis C six months after exposure, this is called ______ hepatitis C. Down 1. A _____ test is the second test you get done for hepatitis C. It confirms whether you currently have hepatitis C. 2. Hepatitis C is a ______ borne virus.

3. If you have questions about hepatitis C, you can call the Hepatitis _______ for free.

6. An _______ test is the first test you get done for hepatitis C. It tells you if you've ever been exposed to hepatitis C. 7. You can get a _______ from your doctor that will protect you from hepatitis B. 10. When new medications are listed on the ____, they are subsidised so that Australians can access them at an affordable cost.

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ANSWERS: 1) PCR 2) blood 3) Infoline 4) liver 5) fibroscan 6) antibody 7) vaccine 8) clear 9) NSP 10) PBS 11) chronic

EDUCATION AND TRAINING SESSIONS We design workshops and education sessions for people who work with communities affected by hep C and hep B. We can come to you or you can come to us. We can tailor our workshops to suit your needs, and we include a C'een & Heard speaker who has lived experience of hep C. For more information about our education and training services, please email education@hep.org.au If you or your community want to be part ofTransmission Magazine, please email transmission@hep.org.au. We can put together a training package for your organisation and help produce a story that could become a future edition of the magazine.

HEP REVIEW MAGAZINE Do you want to read more about looking after your liver and living well with viral hepatitis?

Hep Review contains stories from people living with viral hepatitis, articles on living well with hep B and C and reports on news and research covering treatment, nutrition, and the personal side of hepatitis. To sign up for Hep Review, email hepreview@hep.org.au.

VOLUNTEER CALLOUT Corrective Services wants Hepatitis NSW to promote our work to prisoners via the computers in NSW prisons. We’re looking for volunteers who can provide voice overs or video filming. You’d need to come in to our office in Elizabeth St, Surry Hills on a week day. We’ll provide the script and training. We’ll also provide a free meal and travel reimbursement. Experience of prison is an advantage. Call Paul on 0412 885 201.

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Have you seen our new, mobile-friendly Hepatitis NSW website?

Check it out at www.hep.org.au It's full of information about hep C and hep B. Find out how to look after yourself and protect yourself and others.

Scan me with your smartphone to visit our site.

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You can have Transmission Magazine delivered to you.

Sign up as a Hepatitis NSW member at www.hep.org.au or call 1800 803 990.

27

n o i t s e u q r e w s n a &

with the

Q A

HEPATITIS INFO, SUPPORT, REFERRAL

I've gone through treatment and cleared hep C six months ago. I was expecting everything to be great after that, but I feel like I can't move on. What's going on?

Having hepatitis C is a really significant life experience. It's a big ask for you to leave it completely behind you so soon.

You may still have health problems and you may still experience stigma and discrimination, even if you no longer have hepatitis C. These things aren't fun. But you've achieved something great for your health - congratulations!

The best way forward is for you to have strong support networks. This could include talking to friends and family, but also a counsellor or peer support worker. These people can support you while you work out your feelings and move on.

You can also check in with the nurse or doctor you saw for treatment. And please feel free to call the Hepatitis Infoline. It's free and confidential.

Let's Talk is a free counselling service for people affected by hepatitis C. You can also speak to a Hep Connect peer worker who has gone through hepatitis C treatment. Call the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 990 to find out more. You can also reach us by pressing 3 on the common calls system from prison.

send your questions to us ON

sms: 0404 440 103 ph: 1800 803 990 e: info@hep.org.au

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dial 3 on the Common Calls list (free!)

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION CALL

HEPATITIS INFO, SUPPORT, REFERRAL

HEPATITIS INFOLINE

1800 803 990 INFO, SUPPORT, REFERRALS

Call 131450 to organise an interpreter service You also can now chat to us live at hep.org.au

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the survey 2.After reading thisTransmission Magazine, I know more about keeping healthy with hep C

3. I think this Transmission Magazine is useful to me 4. Since reading this Transmission Magazine,

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(tick all that apply) I have called the Hepatitis Infoline I have looked up the Hepatitis NSW website at www.hep.org.au

5. How do you think we could make this magazine better?

I have talked to someone else about my hep C I have made an appointment with my doctor or liver clinic I have made changes to my lifestyle I know how hep C is passed on I have made no changes

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU 6. How old are you?

7. Are you:

male

11. Please describe yourself: (tick as many as you like) Person with hep C Person cured of hep C

female

trans/inter

8. What is your current postcode (or prison name)?

Partner/relative/friend of person with hep C Person with hep B Current prisoner Ex-prisoner

9. Do you speak a language other than English with your family?

GP or Health Care Worker Community or youth worker

No, only English

Person who currently injects drugs

Yes, the other language I speak is:

Person who used to inject drugs Worker in NSP sector

10. Are you Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?

Yes

No

Worker in AOD or OST sectors Other (please say)

12. If you would like to go in the $50 voucher draw, please give us your name and phone number, email address or prison MIN (optional). This prize offer is for NSW residents only - one draw per person.

Phone number: Name: or email address or MIN : 13.Would you like to be sent up-to-date hepatitis news and information? Write your email address here:

30

Email address:

Hepatitis NSW respects and upholds your right to privacy protection. In accordance with National Privacy Principles, we have a detailed policy and set of procedures regulating how we collect, use, disclose and hold your personal information. For a copy of the policy, please contact us on 02 9332 1853 or visit our website: www.hep.org.au

IT'S EASY!

QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE 1. After reading this Transmission Magazine, I feel I know more about hep C

UT FILL THISYOOU AND IN A COULD W ER $50 VOUCH

SPECIAL THANKS . . . to the participants in the Cease trial at the albion centre

The Albion Centre is a multidisciplinary public health care facility with a primary focus on HIV management and is a part of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. Albion’s purpose is to reduce the impact of HIV, STIs, and viral hepatitis through delivery of comprehensive prevention, treatment, care and support by a team of specialist doctors, nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists, psychologists and social workers.

EDITOR/DESIGNER Heather McCormack EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Tim Baxter Jenny Douglas Paul Harvey Peter Middleton Sonam Paljor Kate Pinnock Rebecca Miers Rhea Shortus Megan Stapleton Robert Wisniewski COMIC WRITER Lawrence Gergich COMIC ARTIST Mark Lauthier www.gestaltcomics.com

Since late 2014, Albion has been recruiting people living with HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) to be in the CEASE trial. CEASE is a major national collaborative project with the ultimate aim of controlling and eliminating HCV infection from the Australian HIV positive population.

ASIDE FROM HEPATITIS NSW EDITORIAL CONTENT, VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS MAGAZINE OR FLYERS ENCLOSED WITH IT ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF HEPATITIS NSW. NEITHER ARE SUCH VIEWS NECESSARILY THOSE OF OUR FUNDING BODIES. TRANSMISSION MAGAZINE DOES NOT PROMOTE OR CONDONE THE USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS. RATHER, IT SEEKS TO PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE WHO ALREADY USE DRUGS TO REDUCE RISKS AND MAKE SAFER CHOICES. NOTHING IN THIS MAGAZINE SHOULD BE TAKEN AS RECOMMENDING DRUG USE.

If you are a youth or health worker and would like to know more about how your clients can contribute to the development of Transmission Magazine call the Hepatitis Infoline on1800 803 990 or email transmission@hep.org.au

Hepatitis Infoline 1800 803 990 (freecall) Hepatitis NSW p: 02 9332 1853 f: 02 9332 1730 PO Box 432 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300 info@hep.org.au Level 4, 414 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills Sydney 2010 www.hep.org.au Hepatitis NSW is proud to acknowledge Aboriginal people as the traditional owners and custodians of our lands and waters.

ABN 30 408 095 245 A non-profit health promotion charity funded by the NSW Ministry of Health. Accredited by the Quality Improvement Council of Australia (QIC). Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

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http://www.hep.org.au

PH: 1800 803 990 Transmission@hep.org.au www.facebook.com/hepNSW @HepatitisNSW