39,782 people were diagnosed with HIV in the United States in 2016, only two years ago. Of those individuals, 3,425 of them contracted HIV from sharing unsterile needles. Most people already know that sharing needles runs the risk of infecting others with HIV, but when people experience intense drug cravings, they momentarily do not care about the risk or fully appreciate how likely contracting the disease is. Withdrawal symptoms can be so strong and uncomfortable that addicts often take life-threatening risks to gain access to the drug that will relieve them of their discomfort.
The real danger of HIV is when HIV advances to AIDS, an immunodeficiency disorder which attacks the immune system. A healthy immune system is crucial for the survival of the body because without the immune system, a simple cold virus could cause significant damage to major organs and potentially be fatal. Essentially, when affected by AIDS, the body’s defenses are down and almost any virus, disease, or bacteria can enter freely.
HIV Basics
HIV is an immunodeficiency virus that results from HIV infection. This disease causes the usual symptoms of feeling sick like fever, sore throat, headaches, skin rashes, and these symptoms can last from 4 weeks to 10 years. Over those time frame, HIV progresses to AIDS, an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. From this point on, AIDS slowly destroys the immune system by eliminating infection-fighting CD4 cells and causing weight loss and fatigue as well as lung, gastrointestinal, nervous system, liver, bone, and brain damage. At this time, the patient starts developing purple bumps on the skin from the combination of rare infections that wreak havoc on the body. At the worse stages of AIDS, dementia sets in and the patient becomes delirious and confused until death. Advancements in medicine have extended the lives of individuals with AIDS, but AIDS remains the leading cause of death.
HIV Spreading
HIV can be spread through blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. The primary way HIV is spread in the United States is through sexual intercourse and by sharing needles for drug use. Drugs like heroin, cocaine, or meth are often used intravenously by needle injection, and these needles spread the HIV virus through the blood transferred from needle to needle. For example, if even one user of the needle has HIV, from then on that needle can spread the HIV virus to anyone else who uses that needle.
Alcohol and other drugs can also increase the risk of AIDS because these substances lower the individual’s judgment, which increases the chances of making regrettable decisions like engaging in unsafe sex or sharing needles. To help protect yourself, avoid drinking around people using intravenous drugs like heroin or meth because lowered inhibitions could lead to life-altering consequences.
Unfortunately, the opioid epidemic has increased the spread of AIDS in the United States. It is therefore highly advised to be cautious if doctors prescribe opioid painkillers because these drugs are highly addictive and often lead people to replace them with the street drug heroin.
Avoid needle sharing at all costs, but more importantly, avoid the risk of needle sharing altogether by either refusing drugs or finding a treatment center if addiction has already set it. Asana Recovery offers detox and residential rehabilitation services in a supportive and calming environment. They provide various therapies and understand how difficult it is to avoid relapse. Call (949) 438-4504 to learn more about their treatment programs.
