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Substance Use and the Risks on Your Health

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Running head: SUBSTANCE USE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE/COMORBIDITY | 1 |

Substance Use and the Risks on Your Health
Cassy L LaFave
SUNY Empire State College

PART I
Substance use poses great dangers and can cause serious health problems ranging from heart disease and liver disease, to respiratory issues, just to name a few ("Risk of Disease with Drug Use - Alcohol Rehab," 2008). An individual who uses substances also increases their risk for contracting infectious diseases, such as, sexually transmitted infections and blood borne diseases, including Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. These infectious diseases may be treatable conditions, or terminal illnesses (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1999).
Many people are aware that intravenous drug use and needle sharing (or sharing drug preparation equipment – “works”) can transmit blood borne diseases (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). What isn’t as widely known is the role substance use plays in general, contributing to the dangers involved. When an individual chooses to engage in substance use, no matter the route of administration, the substance causes a person’s immune system to be lowered. Therefore, their body is more susceptible to infections and harmful diseases ("Risk of Disease with Drug Use - Alcohol Rehab," 2008). Under the influence, a substance user lacks the ability to make sound judgements and often engages in high risk behaviors and activities. Fueled by the substance or the need for the substance, a drug user may be more vulnerable to transactional sex (sex in exchange for drugs, money, food or shelter), increasing the likelihood of unprotected intercourse or irresponsible sexual encounters (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). A substance user could be impulsive in their decision making and have unprotected sex with one or multiple people, contracting or

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