HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C

In New Jersey

HIV/AIDS in New Jersey New Jersey has the

There have been more than 73,000 reported HIV/AIDS cases in New Jersey since the 5th highest rate of
beginning of the epidemic and more than 34,000 New Jerseyans are living with adult HIV, the 3rd
HIV/AIDS. New Jersey has the 5th highest number of adult HIV cases, the 3rd highest highest rate of HIV
number of pediatric HIV cases and the highest proportion of women living with HIV/AIDS
among children and
in the nation. More than 22,000 children in the state have been orphaned by losing
parents to AIDS. Approximately one third of these HIV/AIDS cases were caused by the the highest rate of
sharing of contaminated syringes. women infected with
HIV in the nation.
The devastation of HIV/AIDS has disproportionately affected our most vulnerable — New Jersey HIV/AIDS
communities. Minorities account for 76 percent of adult and adolescent HIV/AIDS cases Surveillance Report, June 2002
to date, and more than 78 percent of New Jerseyans living with HIV/AIDS. Statewide, one
in 63 African Americans is living with HIV/AIDS as opposed to one in 728 whites. In Newark,
one in 30 African Americans is living with HIV/AIDS and in Atlantic City one in 33 African
Nationally injection
Americans is living with HIV/AIDS.
drug use accounts for
Each infection will take a staggering toll on the person infected, their friends, family 17% of HIV infections,
and community. Each infection will cost New Jersey approximately $618,000 in but in New Jersey it
lifetime medical costs. accounts for more than
41% of infections.
Hepatitis C in New Jersey — New Jersey HIV/AIDS
New Jersey is facing a growing epidemic of hepatitis C. The Centers for Disease Surveillance Report, June 2009
Control and Prevention estimates that up to 80 percent of injection drug users nationally
— Centers for Disease Control
are infected with hepatitis C. It is estimated that over 160,000 New Jerseyans are and Prevention HIV/AIDS
infected with the hepatitis C virus. Because not everyone who is carrying the virus Surveillance Report, 2007
knows they are infected, they often lose valuable time in getting treatment and
unknowingly pass the virus on to others. In addition, hepatitis C is the leading cause
of liver transplants.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, and so our best strategy is prevention. Other
than injection drug users, individuals considered to be at high risk for hepatitis C
infection include police officers, firefighters, health care workers, and corrections
officers who frequently come into contact with infected individuals.

In addition to the human costs of hepatitis C infections, the spread of the disease is
costing New Jersey millions of dollars a year in medical costs. Health care costs to
treat hepatitis C in the general population in New Jersey will run into the hundreds
of millions of dollars. The average lifetime cost of treating a person infected with
hepatitis C is $100,000 if the person does not require a liver transplant. Costs including
a liver transplant are at least double that.

Sponsored by Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey

16 West Front Street, Suite 101A, Trenton, NJ 08608 • Phone: 609-396-8613 • Fax: 609-396-9478
Email:nj@drugpolicy.org