AIDS (like hepatitis) is one of the major risks
for people consuming drugs by intravenous injection.

Definition
The virus causing AIDS is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
It attacks our immunitary system, which protects us against infections, and thus allows the emergence of illnesses which, if not treated, eventually lead to the subject's death.

AIDS is a transmissible infection, among others by blood contact (sharing of injection material such as syringes...) but most often by unprotected sexual acts.
See "main transmission ways".

Today in France, more than half of the 6,000 contaminations that recorded every year are due to heterosexual unprotected sexual acts. Everybody is concerned, even more taking into account that the number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis is growing significantly, which demonstrates that people do not - longer - use protective method in sexual acts.

Seropositivity
As soon as the virus is transmitted, one become seropositive.
Seropositivity can be detected a few weeks after the contamination.
Although in the absence of screening the infection can exist unnoticed, it is indeed present, with a high risk of contaminating others.

Even today, almost half of the seropositivity diagnosis occur when people enter a hospital at the time the illness becomes active. In other words, prevention and screening are too often neglected, even though AIDS can be treated!

When someone becomes seropositive, it is for the rest of one's life.
In absence of a medical treatment, the normal AIDS evolution takes only a few years (between 2 and 9 depending upon the virus strain and the subject itself).

Prevention

• There is no vaccine ! Research is in progress, but results leading to an efficient vaccine are not expected before a number of years,
• The only way to prenent AIDS contamination (like for all other sexually transmitted diseaseset), is to wear condoms or caps, and to only use sterile injection material (see "tools"). For caregivers, tattooists and dentists, using disposable material for any invasive procedure should be rule,Chez les soignants,
• In terms of prevention strategy, the golden rule is that responsability is 100% shared between partners. Trust, fidelity, wedding are not a sufficient guarantee : it is up to everyone to act in a 100% responsible way,
• To act responsibly, you must first get information (from associations like Argile, AIDES &, or from your family doctor) and then talk about it with your partner,
• At last, just talking about your sexual and/ or injection habits, allows working on risks taken in AIDS and/ or hepatitis infection and to adapt these habits so as to get the best possible protection.

Screening

• In the case of risky habit (unprotected sexual acts, syringes sharing,...), a visit to a hospital's emmergency department will allow an evaluation of the contamination risk and the prescription of an emmergency treatment while waiting for analysis reports that will confirm or not the contamination,
• In the case of risky habits unprotected sexual acts, syringes sharing,...), a simple blood analysis will detected the presence of the virus after a few weeks,
• Warning, screening is not a vaccine ! Being seronegative only means that one has not been contamined so far. But only an analysis of the hebits and their correction if needed will allow remaining seronegative,
• In case of positive results, it is important to consult with a specialist in a hospital to put in place the appropriate treatment. Despite the unwelcome effects inherent to treatments and AIDS itself, the quality of life can be maintained, with a very long life expectancy. Actually, AIDS is nowadays referred to as chronic disabling illness.

Recovery
As of today, there is no mediaction to heal AIDS.
Nevertheless, in France and other developped countries, access to treatment is easy and permits to reduce or stop the virus multiplication, thus avoiding the immunitary system depression and allowing to retain a quality of life compatible with a social life and a job.

To get more information

• Visit the AIDES site,
• In France, get in touch with the Sida Info Service, phone number 0 800 840 800,
• Have a look at "the main AIDS transmission ways" card.