1. Upcoming Events
5th
Canadian Symposium on HCV
February 26, 2016 Montreal, Quebec
Rainbow Health Ontario Conference
March 9, 10, 11, 2016 London, Ontario
Hep C Peer Support Group
This group is a psycho-educational Peer-led Hep C support
group for those at risk of, affected by, or living with the Hep C
Virus.
Where: 131 John St. S Hamilton, ON. Located in the Canadian
Mental Health Association building (lower level) across from the
Go Station.
When: Every Wednesday from 1:15-3PM
*Refreshments and snacks served
Schedule:
Week 1- Celebration Day (Food & fun)
Week 2- Art Therapy (Peer Instructor)
Week 3-Clinic Day (Hep C Treatment Nurse on site for Hep C
consultation to anyone in the community)
Week 4-Regular Session
Updates from Hamilton Public Health Services:
New Drug on the Street:
Clients from the Van Program have reported that there is a new form of
crystallized fentanyl called “popcorn” being sold on the street. People are
cooking the powdered form of fentanyl into small rocks that look like
popcorn kernels. It looks similar to a crack rock but yellow, and very very
potent. It costs $30-$40 for a point and the average person can only
handle about 0.2 of a point without going under. If you know someone who
uses this drug, advise them to be careful and get a naloxone overdose kit
to keep with them in case of overdose.
Free Naloxone Kits:
If you know someone who have used or are using opioids, they can get a
free, confidential naloxone kit and training by calling public health nurse
Margot at 905-546-2424 x7475. Home visits are available.
New Peer Groups:
Drop in Harm Reduction groups are available, run by Heather, the Van
IDU Outreach worker every Tuesday. Group activities include harm
reduction discussions, support, making safe injection kits, helping provide
info for the Van newsletter, training to be a peer helper for safe injection
supplies and naloxone. Snacks are available.
Drop in times are: Tuesdays 9 am to noon at the AIDS network-- 140 King
St E, lower level suite 101 Tuesdays 1 pm to 4 pm at Helping
Hands Street Mission—349 Barton St E at Emerald For more info, call or
text Heather at 289-439-9565.
Your choice for
everything Hep C
in the City of
Hamilton Hep C News
Did you know?
Some people can have
more than one genotype at
the same time?
It is believed that about 5%
to 25% of people have
multiple genotypes.
Multiple genotypes are a
result of having multiple
exposures to the hep c
virus. Those with multiple
genotypes may be good
candidates for Pan-
genotypic drugs. (Source
HCV Advocate Nov. 2015)
New
Developments in
Hep C Prevention
Pan -genotype drugs
are the next
advancement in hep c
treatment.
These drugs are said to
work against many
genotypes at the same
time. For example, a
Pan-genotypic drug
might be indicated for
genotype 1through 6.
What are some of the
possible downsides?
Well for starters they
may not have the same
amount of antiviral
activity against every
one of these genotypes.
Experts suggest that for
this reason, more
clinical trials will be
needed to show how a
particular drug will react
with all genotypes.
Some suggest that we
will most likely have to
use a combination of
several types of hep c
virus inhibitors
combined with the Pan-
genotypic drug (as well
as different treatment
lengths).
.
Are you a hepatitis c service
provider?
Do you have some news you wish
have included in the next issue?
Perhaps you have clinic news, or
wish advertize an upcoming event?
Perhaps you may even have a
suggestion for a future topic.
Please contact Suzanne Edwards
Hep C Community Coordinator at
suzanne.hepc@gmail.com
We welcome your feedback
The medical or legal information in
these Newsletters is provided as
an information resource only, and
is not to be used or relied on for
any legal advice, diagnostic or
treatment purposes
Contact us:
The Shelter Health Hep C team
info.hepc@gmail.com
905-667-0474 (P)
905-667-0478 (F)
This issue
*New Developments in Hep C
*Upcoming Events
*Did you know?
*Updates from Hamilton Public
Health Services
ISSUE
February 2016
03
Hep C News Issue 03 February 2016