Course Description:
The risk for getting or transmitting HIV is very high if an HIV-negative person uses injection equipment that someone with HIV has used. This is because the needles, syringes, or other injection equipment may have blood in them, and blood can carry HIV. HIV can survive in a used syringe for up to 42 days, depending on temperature and other factors.
Substance use disorder can also increase the risk of getting HIV through sex. When people are under the influence of substances, they are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, such as having anal or vaginal sex without protection (like a condom or medicine to prevent or treat HIV), having sex with multiple partners, or trading sex for money or drugs.
This session will provide an overview of the intersectionality of Substance Use and HIV.
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
- Define substance use
- Discuss the correlation between HIV & substance use
- Discuss the stigma behind both substance use & HIV
- Define harm reduction & identify techniques
- Discuss treatment options for substance use disorder
- Discuss obstacles that occur when treating persons living with HIV & use substances
Intended Audience: Any provider working with people living with or at-risk for acquiring HIV including, but not limited to: Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers, Substance Use Professionals, Case Managers, Community Health Workers.
Certificate of Completion: Certificates of Completion will be provided reflecting 2 hours of attendance.
Program Contact: For questions about this program, please email robert.rodney@vcuhealth.org
