Amphetamines increase the risk of HIV transmission among gay consumers
,
Amphetamine use by gay men increases
the risk of HIV transmission and can cause complications in people already
infected with the virus, according to new work.
Amphetamines and ecstasy are very
popular drug among young people, because of the excitement and liveliness they
provide effects. This feeling of well-being is very dangerous because it lowers
inhibitions and can lead to risk-taking, including sexual, warn the authors on
the website of the journal "Clinical Infectious Diseases".
Some may indeed accept multiply
unprotected sex with partners they do not know the HIV status vis-à-vis HIV.
However, the rate of HIV status is particularly high among consumers of these
substances, the researchers said, emphasizing the dangers faced by these young
people.
Besides the loss of judgment induced
by amphetamine taken which often leads to sexual behavior putting them at high
risk of infection, the drug itself may increase the risk "by blocking a
part of the immune system involved in the fight against HIV" says Dr.
Antonio Urbina, who led the work.
In addition, amphetamines and their
analogs, such as ecstasy, can be fatal when these drugs are associated with
some antiretroviral drugs. And it is not uncommon for users infected with HIV,
under treatment, forget to take their medication and thus contribute to the
development of resistance to certain viral strains.
In patients who are not receiving
antiretroviral therapy, the use of amphetamines may increase the risk of
developing a particular dementia, characterized by a decrease in motor and
verbal skills.
The neurochemical perspective,
amphetamines cause a reduction in the rate of transport of dopamine, causing
symptoms similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease, and when these drugs are
combined with the toxic effects of HIV on the brain , "there is an overlap
between the neurotoxic effects of amphetamines and HIV," says Dr. Urbina,
calling this side effect as the "most serious."
It is therefore urgent to get the
message across to young people. "I sincerely believe that there is a lack
of information about the risks entailed catastrophic amphetamine use,
particularly among young gay men," laments the researcher. According to
him, the risk that
a consumer of amphetamines contract
HIV during unprotected is much greater than for alcohol or marijuana consumer
report.
Author: Mohammad
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