It has been known for more than two decades that many illicit drugs inflict damage on the immune system leaving the body open to a host of opportunistic infections, not the least of which is the HIV virus. Other drugs accelerate the progression of HIV to full blown AIDS. In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health 87:585-590, noted that the risk of AIDS mortality in marijuana users versus non-users was approximately doubled, though the authors insisted this phenomenon was related more to male homosexuality behavior than to smoking marijuana, a drug known to undermine the immune system.

However, here is further scientific research showing the correlation between the use of street drugs and HIV. The study was done on mice because “Such a study in humans would be ethically impossible to conduct, doctors said” showing that drug use in itself, apart from the use of contaminated needles and risky sexual practices, accelerates HIV infection. The study “suggests that cocaine increases the efficiency of HIV in destroying the type of immune cell that fights the virus”

(Note: Above quotes from AP story by Andrew Bridges, which appeared in the Monterey Herald on February 15, 2002)

Cocaine Accelerates HIV Infection
Feb. 18, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) — If there weren’t enough good reasons to “Just say No,” researchers have now discovered another danger of cocaine use. For the first time, scientists have found cocaine significantly accelerates HIV infection.

After infecting mice with the HIV virus, UCLA researchers injected half with liquid cocaine daily, while the other half received a placebo injection. Researchers counted the HIV-infected cells after 10 days and found a 200-fold increase in AIDS viral load in mice injected with cocaine compared to those that did not receive the drug. Gayle Baldwin, M.D., from the UCLA AIDS Institute, says, “In only two weeks, the drug radically stimulated the production and spread of HIV.” In addition, mice with cocaine in their system had more than double the number of HIV-infected cells than cocaine-free mice.

Another significant finding shows a nine-fold decrease in immune cells in the cocaine-exposed mice. Dr. Baldwin says the drug increased HIV’s efficiency so much it nearly destroyed the immune cells HIV targets to destroy the immune system. She says, “Not only did the drug double the number of HIV-infected cells, it produced a nine-fold plunge in the number of T-cells that fight off the virus.”

Researchers believe the animal study could lead to additional studies to examine the effects of diet, alcohol and other drugs on the spread of HIV infection.

SOURCE: To be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2002

Source: Northwest Center for Health & Safety
Site: drugandhealthinfo.org/