This website from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) underscores the heightened risk of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases, among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). It emphasizes the interconnectedness of the opioid epidemic and infectious disease epidemics, advocating for evidence-based interventions that integrate prevention and treatment efforts. Additionally, it highlights the role of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in reducing the risk of infectious diseases by decreasing behaviors like needle sharing and risky sexual behaviors associated with substance use.
