HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Several high-profile HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) outbreaks among people who inject drugs and their partners over the past decade highlight the importance of continuing HIV prevention and engagement in care activities, including access to sterile syringes and free HIV testing, for those who inject drugs. People living with HIV who are Black, Indigenous, or are co-infected with HBV or HCV already experience some of the most significant disparities in care, and thus may need additional support re-engaging in HIV primary care. It is important to remember that people who use drugs are also at risk for HIV from sexual transmission, so harm reduction programs should have an HIV prevention strategy that is robust and takes a whole-person approach. While HIV is not curable, current treatments can suppress an individual’s virus load to the point that it is undetectable in the bloodstream and cannot be transmitted to others (Learn more with this “U=U is a Public Health Imperative” webinar).