Alcohol and HIV/AIDS
Alcohol: A Priority for HIV/AIDS Research
The NIH Office of AIDS Research has identified alcohol use, abuse, and dependence as an important factor in the spread of HIV both here and abroad. Individuals who abuse alcohol are more likely to become infected and to infect others. Accordingly, the NIH Fiscal Year 2004 Plan for HIV-Related Research states:
"High priority is being given to research to understand the phenomenon of addiction itself, as well as the complex interaction of alcohol use, drug use, and poor impulse control, and to develop effective interventions from that knowledge base" (page 28).
OAR further recognizes that alcohol abuse and dependence can compromise treatment adherence and hence worsen clinical outcomes.
OAR also included alcohol among a wide-range of objectives for investigating the contexts of HIV transmission as well as for HIV prevention research, international HIV/AIDS research, and studies that engaging women and racial and ethnic minorities.
Responsive to NIH's plans, the NIAAA Office of Collaborative Research (OCR) is bridging the communities of HIV/AIDS research and alcohol research.
Through a unique collaborative process, OCR supports a diverse portfolio that promotes a multidisciplinary scientific agenda that includes epidemology, prevention, treatment, services, and biomedical researchers.
NIAAA's portfolio of HIV/AIDS research studies also contributes toward other trans-NIH goals for the improvement of research on health disparities, prevention science, women's health, adolescent health, and international collaboration.
The goal of this Web site is to serve as a resource for the many partners involved in developing a robust research program exploring the complex and intertwined issues of alcohol abuse and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Prepared: March 2003