Brief Description
Drug use increases risk for getting or passing on viral infections because certain viruses can spread through blood or body fluids. This happens primarily in two ways: (1) when people inject drugs and share needles or other drug equipment and (2) when drugs impair judgment and people make unwise, unprotected choices related to intimate contact with an infected partner. This can happen with men and women. Women who become infected with a virus can pass it to their baby during pregnancy, whether or not they use drugs. They can also pass HIV to the baby through breastmilk. Drug use can also affect the symptoms a person has from a viral infection. Read the DrugFacts
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- Learn the Link - between drug abuse and the spread of the HIV infection
- Harm Reduction - (NIAID site)
- d'cisions - A series of Webisodes designed to educate teens and young adults on the link between non-injection drug use and HIV transmission
- "Text Message" and "After the Party" (Public Service Announcements)
- Jack and Jill (Public Service Announcement)
- Message from the NIDA Director - HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse - World AIDS Day 2011 (Archives)
- International AIDS Conference - July 18-23, 2010 (Archives)
- Drug Abuse and Risky Behaviors: The Evolving Dynamics of HIV AIDS - Meeting on May 8-9, 2007
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