Links between drugs and HIV

People have their own individual reasons for taking recreational drugs. This may be to relax, to get excited, to enhance sexual pleasure or merely as a way of giving in to peer pressure. 

It is important to remember that - apart from nicotine, alcohol and caffeine - virtually all recreational drugs are illegal. The UK Home Office uses a drug classification system to outline the legal implications if you are caught with them.  

Once they get inside you most drugs go into your blood stream, which takes the drug to your brain. There it triggers different responses, changing heartbeat, blood pressure, liver or kidney function, mood and how you see, hear or feel things. Reactions differ from person to person but you may be much more likely to take sexual risks that you would usually avoid. 

Recreational drugs and HIV medications

If you are HIV positive and you are on combination therapy, then you already have a constant amount of prescription drugs in your system. Adding recreational drugs to that carries risks - your body is already processing your HIV medication so it cannot process recreational drugs as easily as a person not on HIV medication. As your liver tries to deal with both your HIV drugs and any other drugs you have taken, there can be a build up of the recreational drugs.

Read an introduction to the most common known interactions.

Another danger of taking drugs when you’re on HIV medication is you forget to take your medication the right time – or at all.

It is always advisable to check with your HIV doctor. They should be used to dealing with questions about illegal drugs. But if you feel you can’t talk to your doctor, there is also THT Direct and I-Base.