The Link Between Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS
HIV is the virus that causes the disease AIDS. Most people just say "HIV/AIDS" when they are talking about either the virus or the disease it causes.
AIDS is a disease that makes your body unable to fight off illnesses. We have medicines that can treat it, but there is no cure yet.
Drug abuse can put you in danger of getting HIV/AIDS.
When a person is high on drugs, he doesn’t think clearly. He might do risky things. He might have sex without using a condom to protect against HIV/AIDS, other diseases, and pregnancy. If he injects (shoots up) drugs like heroin, cocaine, or meth, he can get HIV/AIDS by sharing a needle with someone who is infected.
Doctors have learned that helping people to stop abusing drugs also helps them avoid getting HIV/AIDS.
Click here to learn more about HIV/AIDS.
"It was easy to ignore that little voice in my head."
![Young, serious man wearing glasses](images/jason_story.jpg)
While partying with cocaine, Jason made bad choices about sex. Now he is living with HIV. (Photo information)