HIV and Substance Use

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • Substance use refers to the use of drugs and alcohol and includes the misuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines.
  • Substance use can lead to risky behaviors (such as condomless sex or sharing needles) that increase the chance of getting HIV or passing it on to others.
  • Substance use can harm the health of a person with HIV by weakening the immune system, damaging the liver, interfering with dail

How to Find HIV Treatment Services

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • There are resources that can help people living with HIV find a health care provider, pay for medicines, locate affordable housing, and get help with mental health issues.
  • The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is a federal program designed to help people with HIV get the medical care and other support services they need.
  • The 

HIV and Nutrition and Food Safety

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • In people with HIV, good nutrition helps to maintain the immune system, maintain a healthy weight, absorb HIV medicines, and support overall health.
  • Food and water can be contaminated with germs that cause illnesses (called foodborne illnesses), which can be more serious for people with HIV due to a weakened immune system.
  • Food safety is about how to s

HIV and Mental Health

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • Mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

HIV and Older People

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • According to an HIV Surveillance Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the nearly 1.1 million people living with diagnosed HIV in the United States and dependent areas in 2021, about 41% (441,614) were aged 55 and older.
  • Many HIV risk factors are the same for people of any age, but older people are less likely to get tested for HIV.
  • Treatment

HIV and Children

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • Perinatal transmission: HIV can pass from a mother with HIV to their child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, called perinatal transmission of HIV. In the United States, this is the most common way children under 13 years of age get HIV.

HIV and Gay and Bisexual Men

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • In the United States, gay and bisexual men are the population group most affected by HIV.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all sexually active gay and bisexual men get tested for HIV at least once a year.
Subscribe to