HOW DRUG ABUSE RELATES TO HIV/AIDS

No one really wants to get infected with HIV/AIDS but our society is increasingly populated today with drug abusers of various cadres and sorts.

This surely raises the risks of contraction of this disease which the world is fighting to eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum.

Coincidentally, the world is also fighting the menace of increasing high risk sexual behaviours at the same time, an observation that seems to be associated mainly with young people. These high risk sexual behaviours happen to be risk factors to HIV infection.

A typical example of the connection between drug abuse, human behaviours and HIV/AIDS is seen among those who assume victims of drug and alcoholic intoxication. This limits their ability to make proper decisions and often end up engaging in unprotected sexual acts which further puts them at a risk of contracting the disease or spreading same.

Injection drug abusers often are predisposed to the infection since one of its risk factors is sharing of sharp objects such as needles, syringes and other injection tools. Note that apart from HIV/AIDS, other diseases such as Hepatitis C which causes liver damage can be spread.

Biological effects of drugs: Drug abuse and addiction can worsen the progression of HIV and its consequences, especially in the brain. For example, research has shown that HIV causes more harm to nerve cells in the brain and greater cognitive damage among people who abuse methamphetamine than among people with HIV who do not abuse drugs. In animal studies, methamphetamine has been shown to increase the amount of HIV in brain cells.

Drug abuse treatment: Since the late 1980s, researchers have found that if you treat drug abuse you can prevent the spread of HIV. When people who have a drug problem enter treatment, they stop or reduce their drug use and related risk behaviours, including drug injection and unsafe sex. Drug treatment programs also serve an important role in getting out good information on HIV/AIDS and related diseases, providing counselling and testing services, and offering referrals for medical and social services.

Source: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/hiv-aids-and-drug-abuse

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