Substance Abuse and Living with HIV/AIDS
What You Need to Know
Sponsored By:
Substance Abuse Resources & Disability Issues (SARDI).
SARDI is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR)
AIDS FOR AIDS
Prevention & Support Services, AIDS Foundation Miami Valley, 937/461-AIDS
Tobacco
Cigarette smoke and other tobacco by-products contain thousands of chemicals
that are harmful to the body including carbon monoxide, nicotine and
tar. Cigarette smoke irritates and damages the throat, lungs, heart and
circulatory system, and the digestive tract. Even for people not infected
with the HIV virus, smoking is deadly. Tobacco is related to at least
seven different types of cancer and is the leading cause of death from
heart attacks and strokes. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are almost
always associated with smoking and smokers suffer from colds, infections
and other illnesses more than non-smokers. In addition to these implications,
smokers living with HIV need to know that smoking:
- increases the incidences of oral complications of HIV such as candidiasis
(thrush).
- increases the likelihood of contracting PCP for people living
with HIV.
- causes smokers living with HIV to progress to symptoms twice
as fast as non-smokers living with HIV.
Alcohol
The use of alcohol can have severe adverse effects for people living
with HIV. Besides impairing judgment when used in large quantities, people
living with HIV need to know that alcohol:
- when used in moderation, significantly reduces the effectiveness
of most anti-viral medications (such as AZT) by blocking absorption
in the stomach
- causes side-effects from medications for HIV by blocking
metabolism in the liver.
- contributes to weight loss for some people
living with HIV by blocking normal nutrient absorption.
- when used in
large quantities, significantly increases the growth rate of the HIV
virus.
Marijuana
Marijuana smoke contains hundreds of chemicals that are harmful to the
body. All the complications caused by tobacco smoke, in particular compromises
in the mouth, digestive tract, and respiratory system, also appear as
a result of marijuana use. Besides impairing judgment, chronic abuse
of marijuana has been associated with decreases in motivation, cognitive
skills and perceptive skills. Some research studies suggest that, although
not physically addictive, marijuana may be psychologically addictive.
Some medications used to treat HIV may cause general malaise, loss of
taste, stomach cramps, mouth sores, malabsorption and diarrhea. Some
people living with HIV choose to smoke marijuana to stimulate their appetite.
Healthier alternatives include:
- Eating bland foods while avoiding your favorite foods when nauseated.
- Taking
a short walk before eating.
- Asking your health care professional about
medications that can stimulate your appetite.
- Asking a nutritionist
about nutritional supplements.
Common HIV Medications and Potential Drug Interactions
| Types of drugs |
Why prescribed |
Potential drug interactions |
| Antibiotics |
Prevent/delay MAC, PCP, URIs, UTIs and other bacterial infections |
Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATODs) can interfere with liver
metabolism |
| Antivirals |
Prevent/delay Herpes, EBV, chicken pox, CMV, hairy leukoplakia |
ATODs can interfere with liver metabolism and stomach absorption |
| Antinauseas |
Counteract nauseating effects of other meds |
Masks symptoms of overdose of barbiturates, narcotics and sleeping
pills |
| Antifungals |
Treat oral thrush, skin infections, and toe nail fungus |
Adverse reactions with alcohol consumption |
CONDENSED FROM: Positively Aware, May/June. 1995 p.12
Resources
- AIDS Foundation Miami Valley Prevention & Support Services
P.O.
Box 3539, Dayton, OH 45401-3539
937/277-2437
- (AIDS); Fax: 937/277-7619
Substance Abuse Resources and Disability Services (SARDI)
Wright State
University School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45401-0927
937/259-1384;
Fax: 937/259-1395
- Family Service Association Living With AIDS Program
184 Salem Avenue,
Dayton, OH 45406
937/222-9481
- Ohio AIDS Hotline
800/332-AIDS
- National AIDS Hotline (24 hours)
800/342-AIDS
- Alcohol Abuse Crisis
Center
800/333-2294
- Drug Abuse Action Help line
800/888-9383
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