There is a strong connection between HIV aids and substance abuse. Drug abuse plays an influential role in increasing the rate of infection as well as the progression of the condition. Individuals who abuse substances have a higher risk of direct exposure through the sharing of needles to administer drugs.
Annually, over 10% of the new HIV infections are attributed to direct infection due to the sharing of needles (American Addiction Centers, 2019). When drug users share contaminated needles or other injection supplies, traces of infected blood get transferred between the individual sharing the instruments.
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Alcoholism and abuse of other non-injectable drugs also increase the rate of HIV infections. The abusers have a higher risk and rate of infection due to their high likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors once the drugs reduce their ability of judgment (Massa, 2012). The drugs usually impair people's judgment and subsequently lead to risky behaviors such as sex with multiple partners or sex without protection.
Alcohol can also impact negatively on HIV treatment and maintenance. First, alcohol abuse has negative effects on the immune system. Alcohol usually weakens the immune system. HIV/AIDS also attacks and waken the immune system. Thus alcoholism and HIV increase chances of additional infection. Alcoholism also increases HIV replication capacity and undermine antiretroviral therapy. HIV/AIDS and HIV therapies are known to have effects on the liver (American Addiction Centers, 2019). Alcohol also has negative effects on the liver. HIV/AIDS patients and abuse alcohol have a higher risk of liver damage.
HIV/AIDS and substance abuse disorders can be considered co-occurring infections because of their high rates of occurring together. Many HIV patients also suffer from substance abuse disorders. A large number of them got infected due to substance abuse habits. The drugs and substances abused negatively affect the body organs due to toxicity. The impact of the drugs alongside the impact of HIV/AIDS on the organs increases the rate at which the patients experience organ failures. People respond to drugs and substances differently, however, drugs and substances compound HIV/AIDS-associated complications. The effects take a toll on patients’ mental and physical health rustling in depression and may make it difficult for the patients to regain and maintain good health.
In conclusion, substance abuse or use of mood altering substances increases the risk of HIV/AIDS infection. In infected persons, Alcohol an and substance abuse increase severity of HIV/AIDS by increasing the rate of virus replication, undermining therapy and intensifying degeneration of various body organs like the live. As a result Substance abuse and HIV/AIDS undermine the quality of life of affected persons
References
American Addiction Centers. (2019, September 12). Substance Abuse & HIV/AIDS. American Addiction Centers . Retrieved from https://americanaddictioncenters.org/health-complications-addiction/substance-abuse-hiv-aids
Massa, A. A., & Rosen, M. I. (2012). The relationship between substance use and HIV transmission in Peru. Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy, 3 (3), 128. doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000129
