HIV and Drug Abuse in Women
Many understand that drug abuse can definitely increase one’s risk for HIV. However, some individuals, both men and women, with HIV do not understand the implications that drug abuse can have on their HIV disease. Women are at a higher risk often due to some risky behaviors they may engage in due to drug addiction. A recent report, published by cnn.com, states the following statistics about HIV and drug abuse in women:
- 84% of women get HIV from risky sex with an HIV-infected man.
- 15% of women get HIV from injecting drugs.
- If you abuse drugs, you are more likely to trade sex for drugs, which is an HIV
- Individuals who abuse alcohol, are nine times less likely to follow through on HIV treatment than someone who does not abuse alcohol. More women are struggling with alcohol addictions than ever before
- Women who inject drugs are at higher risk of getting the liver infection hepatitis C. Hepatitis C makes it harder to treat HIV.
- Alcohol abuse and other drugs can cause HIV to multiply more quickly in your body, increasing your viral load. Alcohol also can worsen the side effects that HIV medications already have on your liver.
Overall, anyone who abuses drugs puts himself or herself at risk for contracting HIV. The combination is dangerous and recent statistics show that women are even more susceptible to contracting HIV from drug abuse.