Substance Abuse and HIV
Substance abuse alone is something that could be potentially fatal for any person. However, when you add in the component of having an illness such as HIV or AIDS, you risk physical and psychological trauma. If you don’t have one of these illnesses, there are risks of using drugs and alcohol for people who are HIV positive and participating in illicit substance abuse is something that can put you in a position to contract one of these potentially fatal conditions.
HIV and AIDS can be physically and psychologically taxing on a person. When you add in the added component of substance abuse, you can put yourself in a downward spiral that you can only get out of with professional help. This period is where addiction treatment comes into play. Throughout your addiction treatment, you will have the opportunity to address your substance abuse head-on and work through the emotions that you may be feeling as part of having this virus and experiencing substance abuse.
As part of your time in addiction treatment, you will participate in different forms of addiction therapy. Addiction therapy can be challenging at times, but overall incredibly beneficial when it comes to identifying the root cause of your addiction. The forms of addiction therapy you will experience during your time in treatment can include individual, behavioral, family, and group therapy. Openly and honestly participating in different forms of therapy will provide you with answers to questions you may have regarding the development of substance abuse and provide you with the comfort and understanding that you need to overcome your addiction once and for all. Once you’re in a better place and working through your addiction, you can completely commit yourself to caring for yourself and managing your diagnosis of HIV or AIDS.
How Drug and Alcohol Abuse Increases Risk for HIV Transmission
There are several ways that drug and alcohol abuse can increase your risk of HIV transmission. When you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you can’t think clearly or make healthy decisions for yourself. Therefore, you may find yourself in a position where you engage in risky behavior that could risk contracting HIV or AIDS.
It’s important to understand the ways that HIV and AIDS are spread. One of the leading ways these diseases are spread is by using a needle that a person used with one of these diseases. The virus is part of their blood. Therefore, when you share needles, there is a direct access point when transferring contaminated blood into your system. Another way that HIV and AIDS are spread is through unprotected sex with an individual who has one of these diseases. When you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you are more likely to decide to engage in risky behavior such as unprotected sex. In turn, this is something that could put you at risk of transmission.
How Alcohol and Drug Abuse Interacts With Antiretroviral Medications to Protect Yourself
When your body is already struggling with viruses such as HIV and AIDS, adding substance abuse into the mix is something that will only further harm you physically. When attempting to manage these viruses through medication, engaging in substance abuse can prevent the medication from taking its full effect. Also, it can contribute to your body continuing to break down. For example, it’s not uncommon for a person with one of these viruses to suffer from more extreme liver disease if they are also struggling with the added component of substance abuse. Although you indeed have a virus, you should always take steps to get yourself in the best possible condition healthwise to ensure that your body will respond as optimally as possible to treatment.
See what kinds of doctors treat alcohol and drug addiction in our blog below:
AIDS Awareness Month
As a way to promote a better understanding of the precautions you need to take against AIDS as well as a better understanding of the virus overall, December is designated as AIDS Awareness Month. Although there is information about AIDS that is always readily available, this month is dedicated to promoting information about AIDS, how to prevent contracting this disease and what you can do to keep yourself as healthy as possible.
Another focus of AIDS Awareness Month is to try to remove the stigma associated with having this condition. There was a period when AIDS and HIV were thought to be viruses that specifically impacted the LGBTQ+ community. However, the understanding of the premise of this virus has grown. Unfortunately, a negative stigma is still associated with reacting to individuals who may have this virus. AIDS Awareness Month provides information and understanding on the best way to care for yourself and provides friends and family members with the support they may need to care for their loved ones with this condition.
Addiction Treatment at Muse Treatment in Los Angeles
If you’re struggling with substance abuse or have concerns regarding the risks of using drugs and alcohol for people are HIV position. Our intake team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so we can help to get you started on your addiction recovery journey. Part of the service we offer at Muse Addiction Treatment Center includes a detox program to help you get the start you need in your recovery. Typically, detox lasts about seven days, regardless of whether you’re struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Within just a few hours, you will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms which is part of getting your body back to where it needs to be when processing correctly. These withdrawal symptoms can range in severity depending on several factors, including the substance you’re using, the length of time you have been using it, and the overall severity of your substance abuse.
Following your time in detox, you can participate in an inpatient or an outpatient treatment program. The main distinction between these two treatment options is where you will live when you’re in treatment. During inpatient treatment, you will be able to live at our luxurious treatment facility and enjoy around-the-clock care from our expert addiction treatment team. You will also be able to interact with other people working through their addiction treatment program, which can serve as a great source of support.
An outpatient treatment plan is always a suitable solution if you cannot commit to an inpatient treatment program. An outpatient treatment program is more flexible and allows you to live off campus while still getting the help and care needed to work through any substance abuse issues you may be facing.
When you’re ready to commit to addiction treatment in Los Angeles, or you would like to learn more about the risks of using drugs and alcohol for people who are HIV positive, we encourage you to get in touch with Muse Addiction Treatment Center at (800) 426-1818 to discuss the various addiction treatment options. We are ready to help you when you’re prepared to commit to a life of sobriety.
