Sharing Drug-Injection Treatment
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who inject drugs are at a higher risk for developing hepatitis B, which can be potentially life-threatening. They estimate that approximately 2% of people who inject drugs worldwide live with chronic hepatitis B infection.
Receiving drug-injection treatment can be associated with an increased risk of developing hepatitis B. Sharing contaminated needles and other drug injection paraphernalia is the primary transmission mode for hepatitis B. Even if an individual only shares equipment once, they can be at risk for contracting the virus. In addition, sharing equipment frequently further increases the risk of contracting the hepatitis B virus.
The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants, children, and adolescents up to 18 years of age. For adults, the vaccine is recommended for those at increased risk for infection, including healthcare workers and people with chronic liver disease. The vaccine is also recommended for all adults who were not vaccinated as children or adolescents.
