People who engage in extensive abuse alcohol have a high likelihood of further engaging in various behaviors which subject them to the risks for contracting HIV. For instance, the standing drug use rates through injection have been on the increase among many alcoholics especially in terms of their treatment. On the other hand, the increasing levels of ingestion of alcohol have been associated with the greater injection drugs that narrow down to the sequent risk behaviors such as sharingof needles.The continuous alcohol use history is correlated with the lifetime tendency of engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors such as unprotected intercourse multiple sex partners and as well as sex involving high-risk partners (especially drug users through injectionsand prostitutes). This also facilitates the money or drugs exchange for sex. There are a number of reasons for such a peer association.Alcohol acts on the human brain directly in the reduction of inhibitions as well as diminishing the overall risk perception.On the other hand, the expectations of the alcohol’s effects could induces more powerful influence especially with the sexual behavior which is alcohol-involved (Perkinson, 2011). Consequentially, studies demonstrate that people that are strongly in belief of the fact that alcohol enhances sexual arousal as well as performance will have a likelihood of practicing risky sex while drinking.
Alcohol also increases the susceptibility to various infections which occur in the form of complications of AIDS. The infections associated with both AIDS and alcohol includes tuberculosis which is a leading death causing element among people who have HIV. Alcohol also increases the overall the severity for the AIDS-related brain damage that also characterizes the fundamental aspects of its severest form through the profound dementia as well as the high death rates.The HIV progression rate and the AIDS-associated infections development may be under the control of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) which is combination of powerful antiviral medications (Doweiko, 2010). Irrespective of the fact that this markedly indicates the increased survival rates, HAART can be linked to several disadvantages such as the evolution of strains for HIVelements that are medication-resistant coupled with the presence of varying involvement among other medications. Various components are even prescribed with regard to infectionsrelatedto AIDS. Unfortunately, many patients do not adhereto the complex regimenof medication. Various outcomes will also have a linked element of heavy alcohol usage with the lowered levels of compliance to medication coupled with weakenedresults from the HIV therapy.
Many people are seen to deliberately use alcohol during their sexual encounters as a way of providing an excuse for such socially unacceptable behavior even in the reduction of their ever conscious risk awareness. Based on this, such a practice arenormally common with men who keep involving themselves in sex with other men. Such findings are well consistent with various observations for which the men drinking prior or during the homosexual contact are engrossed in the advanced likelihood over the heterosexuals in engaging in numerous sexual practicesclassified as high-risk.Lastly, the existing association between high-risk sexual behavior and drinking levels is not an implication of the fact that alcohol will necessarily play a critical role in the behavior while still causing high-risk behavior upon each occasion (Lowinson, 2005). For instance, drinking parties and bars are convenient social settings under which people meet potential sexual partners. Additionally, alcohol abuse frequently occurs among people with whom their lifestyles and personality are in constant predisposition of high-risk behaviors.
References
Doweiko H. E., (2010) Concepts of Chemical Dependency. New York: Cengage Learning
Lowinson J. H., (2005) Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Perkinson R. R., (2011) Chemical Dependency Counseling: A Practical Guide. New York: SAGE
