Addiction and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), Human Immunodeficiency Virus, (HIV), and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS): Their Mutual Interactions

Abstract

We explore the links between substance use, misuse, addiction, and dependency and sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) to increase our awareness of their interdependence and to identify new ways to perceive, judge, and intervene (or not to) with associated problems. We consider the sociocultural and economic context in which these behaviors occur; the impact these behaviors have on one another; the personal opinions and attitudes; the religious, moral, or political beliefs and agendas; the physiological and fiscal constraints; and theories of rational decision-making and psychological motivation that act to increase or reduce the incidence of these behaviors and their sequellae, while hindering or facilitating prevention, harm reduction, and treatment interventions. Mechanisms of epidemic spread of STDS/HIV/AIDS are presented in the Appendix.

Keywords:

• addiction
• AIDS
• harm reduction
• HIV
• injection drug use
• marginality
• needle exchange
• sexually transmitted diseases
• social context