Are Methamphetamine Users at Risk for Contracting HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and C?
Increased HIV and hepatitis B and C transmission are likely consequences of increased methamphetamine abuse, particularly in individuals who inject the drug and share injection equipment. Infection with HIV and other infectious diseases is spread among injection drug users primarily through the re-use of contaminated syringes, needles, or other paraphernalia by more than one person. Research also indicates that methamphetamine and related psychomotor stimulants can increase the libido in users, in contrast toopiates which actually decrease the libido. However, long-term methamphetamine use may be associated with decreased sexual functioning, at least in men. Additionally, methamphetamine seems tobe associated with rougher sex, which may lead tobleeding and abrasions. The combination of injection and sexual risks may result in HIV becoming a greater problem among methamphetamine abusers than among opiate and other drug abusers, something that already seems tobe occurring in California.
