HIV and AIDS Treatment Greatly Reduces Risk of Infection among Drug Users
The HIV/AIDS treatment known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been found not only to therapeutically benefit diagnoses of HIV-1 by suppressing replication of the virus, but also to reduce the spread of the virus among the general population, especially among injecting drug users (IDUs). According to a recent population-based study sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), HAART has the potential to drastically lower the number of HIV diagnoses, even among individuals with a history of injection drug use. Researchers’ findings were published online in The Lancet and presented at the International AIDS Conference held in Vienna.
HAART, although not a cure for the virus, has the ability to prevent viral cell growth and prolong life expectancy for diagnosed individuals who adhere to therapy. HAART is an aggressive form of drug therapy that combines highly potent antiretroviral pharmaceuticals which target the HIV virus during different stages of its development. Because NIDA’s study was conducted in British Columbia, researchers were easily able to measure the effects of increased HAART treatment among the population since Canadian residents receive free medical care, including the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Led by Dr. Julio Montaner at the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, researchers found that since the widespread adoption of HAART coverage within the province in 1996, the viral load and number of new diagnoses was nearly cut in half.
Among a population of approximately 4,420,000 residents, British Columbia had 702 new diagnoses of HIV infection in 1996, while only 837 individuals were undergoing HAART treatment. By 2009, however, 5,413 individuals were receiving HAART treatment, and the number of new diagnoses dropped to an average of 338 per year. Although the study showed a progressive decrease in the HIV-virus infection rate among the general population, the most dramatic decline occurred among IDUs—a surprising result since drug users are less likely to adhere to treatment than non-drug abusers. Using two medical databases that track information on HAART coverage in British Columbia, researchers measured changes in HIV viral infection load, new HIV diagnoses, and HIV testing among the population. At times when HAART coverage was significantly increased, the number of new HIV diagnoses simultaneously decreased significantly. As HAART treatment increased during 1996 to 2000, the number of new diagnoses fell by 30%. Again, from 2004 to 2009, the number of new diagnoses fell by 17% as HAART coverage continued expanding. The more individuals who were actively adhering to HAART treatment, the more controlled the spread of infection among the public became.
The institution of HAART treatment had a direct impact on prevention, especially for IDUs. In 1999, there were 159 new cases of HIV infection among IDUs in British Columbia. Yet overtime, this percentage fell by 50% as only 80 new cases were found in 2009 in the region. These findings strengthen the current scientific evidence regarding HIV treatment available, and offer hope for the effort to support infected individuals who are prone to substance abuse and are therefore more difficult to treat. Drug users are at a heightened risk of contracting HIV/AIDS infection, and the spread of drug abuse is indubitably interrelated with the spread of the virus. Not only are IDUs at high risk due to intravenous drug use and the sharing of contaminated syringes and other injection paraphernalia, but IDUs and other drug abusers are more susceptible to engage in HIV-risk behavior, such as unprotected sex, multiple partner sex, transactional sex acts, and violence.
Globally, more than 33 million people are diagnosed with HIV, with approximately 2.7 million new cases being diagnosed each year. According to NIDA, there has progressively been about 56,000 new diagnoses of HIV over the past decade, while more than 1 million Americans living with diagnoses or undiagnosed HIV/AIDS. NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow announced that the study’s findings reinforce the need to expand HAART coverage within current medical practices to help limit the spread of HIV infection while preventing viral progression. While the medical world continues its search for a viable cure for HIV/AIDS, HAART treatment is proving to be an effective strategy in combating the AIDS epidemic. HAART treatment offers promising, drastic improvements in the future of disease control which medical professionals and policymakers worldwide should consider.
