Analyzing Prevalence Among Alcohol and or Drug Users for HIV AIDS Infection

¶ … Alcohol and/or Drug Users for HIV / AIDS Infection

People abuse/use a number of both legal and illegal substances, recreationally. Of these, the most commonly abused substance is alcohol. Drugs include cocaine (which includes crack), pot or marijuana, amphetamines (speed), ecstasy, and heroin. Drugs have the potential to intensify risks of an individual contracting HIV infection, and are capable of giving rise to special issues in already-infected individuals (University of California, 2011).

Substance abuse is associated with innumerable risk factors. One factor that serves to hamper efforts towards preventing HIV spread and proper treatment of those who are infected is alcohol use or misuse by infected or at-risk populations. Researchers are now gaining deeper insights into the multifaceted link between HIV infection and consumption of alcohol. Drug/alcohol abuse may impair an individual's judgment, causing him/her to participate in sexual activities that put him/her at risk (Bryant, Nelson, Braithwaite & Roach, 2010).

Further, it has been found that drinkers typically delay in going for HIV tests and, in the event they test positive, they are prone to put off seeking treatment. Moreover, in their treatment phase, drinkers might find it hard to adhere to complex treatment regimen. All the above factors intensify the possibility of an infected individual infecting other people or of his/her condition aggravating to contraction of AIDS. Hence, alcohol may be considered to be a significant factor in the AIDS/HIV arena (Bryant, Nelson, Braithwaite & Roach, 2010). Additionally, sharing of needles for injecting drugs (like speed, anabolic steroids, or heroin) is highly dangerous and capable of facilitating spread of HIV (and similar serious diseases/infections) from person to person. Furthermore, some drug addicts might even resort to trading money or sex for acquiring drugs. This intensifies their risk of contracting HIV, particularly if they participate in unsafe sexual activities (University of California, 2011).

HIV / AIDS and substance abuse may be regarded as co-occurring ailments since substance abuse exposes HIV-infected persons to increased health risk. Further, some drugs are capable of harming the immune system of users; one's immune system is crucial in fighting infections. This proves to be particularly dangerous for HIV-infected individuals. The practice of injecting drugs using needles also exposes HIV-infected individuals to harmful viruses or bacteria that can render them very ill. Alcohol/drug addicts are usually malnourished. Poor nourishment may be a grave issue for individuals suffering from HIV, making them sick more easily. Drugs/alcohol can have serious and lethal interactions with medicines administered to HIV-diagnosed patients, for staying well. Use of drugs can upset people's lives. Disturbance in the lives of HIV-infected individuals may cause them to forget or neglect taking their medicines, be present at doctor's appointments, and take other necessary steps for maintaining their health (University of California, 2011).