[Can we stop the hepatitis C virus transmission in drug users?]

Despite the effectiveness of drug treatment and harm reduction programmes aimed at reducing illegal drug use, especially heroin use, situations at risk of transmitting HCV infection are still very frequent. Among routes of drug administration, injection appears as the most dangerous mean regarding the spread of HCV infection among drug users. This practice frequently occurs within a context of a group sharing climate (equipment, substance, housing, etc.) and mutual support. Risk of unsafe behaviour is increased at the time of their first injection or during the first steps of their experience as newly injectors. Public health interventions should target a reduction in the number of injections by modifying the pharmacological format of sublingual buprenorphine, by defining the cessation of injection as one of the main objectives of drug users care programs, by designing and implementing interventions and iniatives that target recreational multiple drug users at risk of initiating drug injection.