Alcoholism intensifies HIV/AIDS

Dec 01, 2004

Alcohol and AIDS are good friends. Boozing is linked to risky sex. “Once you have HIV, alcohol speeds up your death,” said Martial Magirigi, the director of Serenity Centre, an NGO that treats people suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Magirigi said alcohol depresses the immune system.

By Fred Nangoli

Alcohol and AIDS are good friends. Boozing is linked to risky sex. “Once you have HIV, alcohol speeds up your death,” said Martial Magirigi, the director of Serenity Centre, an NGO that treats people suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Magirigi said alcohol depresses the immune system.

He said people under the influence of alcohol and other drugs like marijuana, cocaine or mairungi often engage in risky behaviours that could lead them into contracting the virus.

He said in people undergoing treatment with anti-retroviral drugs, the use of alcohol weakens the treatment and renders it ineffective.

“Unless these issues are addressed, efforts to treat addiction and HIV/AIDS will come to naught,” he said.

Magirigi said the question of impaired thinking as related to HIV/AIDS and drug abuse has a lot to do with alcohol, drugs and the brain.

He said the impaired thinking might lead one into having i rresponsible sex, which leads to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

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