What Is The Relationship Between HIV And Drug Abuse

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Building a Cooperative Doctor/Patient Relationship

Introduction A positive HIV-antibody test or an AIDS diagnosis changes many aspects of a person's life, including the kind of relationship they may choose to have with their doctor. Many people develop a more assertive attitude about their health and well-being when they find out they have HIV. Because HIV disease and treatment is complicated, making decisions about when, how and whether to start anti-HIV therapy isn't always easy. One great...

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HIV and Drug ABUSE

I have an HIV Pos. gay friend who also has a drug prob. He is very intell. good job, and so on. Up to this point has been relatively in good health. I am concerned about the efects of the drugs on his body being HIV Pos. and the effect on his...

Response from Andrew T. Pavia, M.D.

University of Utah, School of Medicine

This is an important question. Most of us who care for people with HIV are seeing an ever increasing amount of drug use. This includes alcohol, prescription drugs, and "club drugs" as well as the usual favorites, methamphetamine, cocaine... Read more »

Drug abuse and HIV/AIDS

Thank you so much for your help in this forum. I tested negative for HIV in August and October 2000. I was however, hospitalized in October 2003 with pneumosistis pneumonia with an AIDS diagnosis, cd4 of 25 and a viral load of over 1,000,000....

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,First off, congratulations on your remarkable recovery viral load over a million plummeting to undetectable and CD4s skyrocketing from 25 to over 319! BRAVO! Regarding substance abuse and HIV progression, yes, certain illegal substances had... Read more »

AIDS & SUBSTANCE ABUSE The Body: Rick Sowadsky M.S.P.H., C.D.S, Answers to Safe Sex Questions

Rick, is there an identified relationship between being a chronic substance abuser, (aside from the issue of contaminated needles) and the incidence of AIDS? are there any empirical studies to suggest that Those who have HIV are more prone to...

Response from Rick Sowadsky, M.P.H.

Nevada State Health Division AIDS Program

Hi. Thank you for your question.It is well known that persons under the influence of alcohol and otherrecreational drugs (including cocaine, pot, etc.) are at increased risk forHIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's). This is... Read more »

Substance abuse & HIV

Assuming that intravenous drug use, specifically crystal meth, is habitual and self-destructive, I would like to know just how this habit affects the HIV virus and generally what are the short and long-term effects to the body? ...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

No specific data to my knowledge on this topic, only epidemiological data.... Read more »

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HIV and Relationships

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

Dear all,

I am a gay man age 37 years old originalyy from Italy. I have been living in London for the past 13 years. I was diagnosed at the age of 24 so its been sometime that I have been living with the experience of being HIV positive. i have had 2... Read more »

Crystal Methamphetamine and the HIV Relationship

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

I have been reading a lot lately about the many of us who became positive after a night of partying (mostly on CM) although I am sure there are many other party drugs that would take you there.

In my case, I was over 40 when I started. Never did... Read more »

HIV and Relationships

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

+/- Relationship Help

Posted by briguysfo, 5 Replies

I met my soul mate nearly a year ago - he is HIV+ and I'm HIV-... During the year together we've experienced a lot of different emotions and troubles like any relationship would, however I'm starting to feel as if my partner is really angry all of... Read more »

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