Posted on: 4 August 2020
The New Beginnings’ integrated service in Brent marked World Hepatitis Day with a series of staff presentations.
Delivered by CNWL in partnership with WDP and B3, the service helps people in Brent who want to break a cycle of addiction to substances such as heroin, club drugs, other types of stimulants or long term alcohol addiction.
World Hepatitis Day, which fell on 28 July, aims to raise the awareness about the dangers presented by the blood-borne virus.
This year's theme was 'Find the Missing Millions'. In the UK, an estimated 215,000 people have Hepatitis C, 90% of the cases in England are from people who are or have injected drugs. For many, they do not know they are infected.
Staff delivered presentations on the causes and types of Hepatitis, the effects of liver damage, treatment options followed by a brain storming session and a quiz. 
CNWL Addictions provides free and confidential testing for Hepatitis C for people who use substances across London and Milton Keynes. With 49% of people who inject drugs, infected; testing is offered to all our service users along with a broader package of harm reduction education and drug treatment.