HIV/AIDS

Drug use is an important driver of the HIV epidemic. Unsafe sexual behavior, resulting from the dis-inhibitory effects of drug use, abuse, and dependence, increases the risk of HIV transmission. This unsafe behavior can occur in the context of commercial sex work and multiple partners, or with unsafe sex between HIV+ individuals and their partners. Both alcohol and illicit drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, can be used to increase sexual desire, improve sexual performance, and increase infidelity. Alternatively injection drug use, with heroin, decreases sexual desire but can result in HIV infection through direct percutaneous virus infection from contaminated injection equipment. Treatment of drug abuse and dependence results in a reduction of unsafe sexual and drug use HIV risk behaviors.

• HIV Prevention among Injection Drug Users, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Institute of Medicine Report: Preventing HIV in Intravenous Drug Users