Does living with HIV/AIDS increase the risk of substance use?

Key take-home messages

• HIV-positive individuals are already at increased risk for experiencing stressful and traumatic events, including AIDS-related losses and grief, which increase their risk of substance use and abuse.
• None of the research studies reviewed analyzed the risk of substance use among people with HIV (post diagnosis) who do not have histories or dual diagnosis of substance use/abuse.
• The articles under review widely considered substance use as a pre-existing problem or diagnosis among people living with HIV.
• This review identified the clear need for research on this question, with particular focus on the risk of substance use among urban (newly diagnosed) HIV positive youth.

• Population(s)
  • General HIV+ population
• Substance Use
  • Alcohol
  • Nonmedicinal drugs
  • Tobacco