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How are drug users at a greater risk for a disease that is caused by a virus, such as hepatitis?

Some blood containing the virus remains in the needle and is injected in another person when needles are shared.

Some viruses are part of the impurities in the drugs that people inject with needles.

These viruses are in the air and a person who is a drug abuser is at greater risk to develop these kinds of diseases.

The viruses are not killed when needles are cleaned and can be injected into the person who uses the needle.

1 answer

Drug users are at a greater risk for diseases caused by viruses, such as hepatitis, primarily due to the practice of sharing needles. The most accurate statement regarding this risk is:

Some blood containing the virus remains in the needle and is injected in another person when needles are shared.

When individuals share needles for injecting drugs, any residual blood that contains viruses such as hepatitis B or C can be transferred from one person to another. This direct exposure to contaminated blood significantly increases the risk of viral transmission.

The other statements do not accurately reflect the primary risks involved with drug use and viral infections:

  • The idea that viruses are part of the impurities in drugs is misleading; while adulterants in drugs can pose health risks, they are not the primary mechanism for viral infections like hepatitis.
  • Viruses are not airborne; they are primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, not through the air.
  • While cleaning needles can reduce the risk of infections, it is often insufficient to eliminate all viral presence, and the reuse of contaminated needles is the primary concern.

Overall, the sharing of needles presents the highest risk for transmission of bloodborne viruses.