The interaction between alcohol and HIV/Aids Hasse Schneidermann and Øystein Østraat

Three areas of interaction Alcohol contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS Alcohol boosting the development of the disease Alcohol reducing the effects of medical treatment

Alcohol contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS strong correlations between alcohol use and sexual behaviour new population groups are increasingly affected by HIV, often through heterosexual contacts. use of alcohol may be a risk factor in this context.

alcohol use is often associated with early sexual activity (unplanned and unprotected) young people are three times as likely to have sex that is unprotected when they are drunk then when sober (UK) sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have greatly increased over the last 12 years (UK) chlamydia has increased by 300%; gonorrhoea by 200% and HIV by 300%, and syphilis by 2000% (UK)

Social, cultural and psychological links – Social and cultural status of alcohol contributes to hazardious sexual behaviour – alcohol is an excuse for irresponsible behaviour – alcohol symbolises masculinity and ”maleness” – hazardious behaviour has a cultural, more then physical, explaination

From risk groups to risk situations – a shift of focus from who to where – high risk venues – combination of alcohol and sexual encounters in bars and restaurants increases risk of HIV transmission – a general trend in HIV prevention work

Alcohol boosting the development of the disease use of alcohol can impair a person’s immune system, increases with the alcohol consumption level drinking can also result in increased vulnerability to HIV infection experiment with monkeys and SIV – alcohol fuels the development of the virus

Alcohol reducing the effects of medical treatment the drugs used in antiretroviral treatment (ART) slow down the replication of HIV in the body strict regime that doesn’t og well with high alcohol consumption research that indicates that alcohol reduces the effect of medications

Implications for the alcohol group? seminar or workshop with the HIV/Aids group? policy implications? ”do they want us?”