A model for treating HCV hepatitis in patients receiving methadone maintenance therapy.

Introduction: Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with substance abuse, treatment of addicts is problematic. We report the results of a pilot scheme for treatment of HCV - infected substance abusers in a methadone maintenance center (MMC).

Methods: The treatment program was carried out at a single MMC.

Neurodevelopmental and psychological assessment of adolescents born to drug-addicted parents: effects of SES and adoption.

Objectives: Prenatal exposure to heroin may have long-term consequences for development during early and middle childhood. The present research studied the cognitive, social, and emotional functioning of adolescents exposed to drugs prenatally, and investigated the extent to which the early adoption of children exposed prenatally to drugs would alleviate the possible effects of exposure.

Methods: The study included 191 adolescents (12-16 years of age) and their parents in Israel, who had or had not been exposed prenatally to drugs and differing in socio-economic status (SES), and in adoptive status.

["Injecting clean or being clean?" The international and Israeli experiences of Syringe Exchange Programs among injecting drug users].

Injecting drug users (IDU) are a hard-to-reach population. The treatment objectives are to reduce their risk factors, to guide them to total abstinence or to antagonist treatment. When IDU are not ready for detoxification, they are referred to Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP).