amfAR just published a new analysis in Health Affairs blog that displays how many substance abuse facilities nationally offer HIV testing or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) testing, based upon data from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Below are some key findings from the analysis:

HIV testing availability in substance use facilities.

• Only 28% of facilities test for HIV nationally
• Only 22% of facilities in CDC-defined ‘vulnerable counties’ nationally offer HIV testing
• A plurality (58%) of SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment programs offer HIV testing (but a substantial minority do not)

HCV testing availability in substance abuse facilities

• Only 28% of facilities test for HCV nationally
• Only 25% of facilities in CDC-defined ‘vulnerable counties’ nationally offer HCV testing
• A plurality (63%) of SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment programs offer HCV testing (but a substantial minority do not)

CDC has reported that HIV and HCV rates are increasing among people who inject drugs (PWID) nationally due to the opioid crisis. Since HCV is curable and HIV is treatable, infectious disease testing must be incorporated into substance abuse facilities to keep PWID healthy and blunt further HIV or hepatitis C transmissions due to opioids or other substances.