Drug addicts are at increased risk of contracting and transmitting HIV infections. Therefore, helping drug addicts could possibly curb the number of new HIV infections worldwide, according to information presented at the 18th International AIDS conference in Vienna, Austria.
Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse said that many drugs increase sexual desire and impulsivity while decreasing the function of the inhibitory systems of the brain. Even after a person stopped using drugs, impulsive behaviors can persist for years.
"If you do not treat the addiction," she said, "the likelihood of any individual being infected by HIV becomes higher. "
For example, Volkow noted that substituting methadone for heroin reduces the rate of HIV transmission from 20% to 2% over a period of 18 months.
"Addiction is a chronic disease," Volkow said. "People take drugs, not because the individual wants to but because they have lost their ability to control."
Labels: health problems, addiction treatment, treatment, high risk behavior
Posted By: Jane St. Clair