The National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project released a conference report showing that methamphetamine (meth) use could explain 20% of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Seattle and surrounding King County, WA. Further, because MSM account for 80% of all new HIV infections in King County, meth use could explain 16% of all new HIV infections in the county.
Seattle/King County public health epidemiologists conducted this study and used multiple national and regional sources to determine the number of new HIV infections among MSM from 2009 through 2013. The authors emphasized that meth use in the year before HIV diagnosis led to delayed linkage to HIV care and lack of viral suppression. They advised health departments to collect data on meth use in people with newly diagnosed HIV to monitor the impact of this risk factor.
Visit www.natap.org and view “Meth Use May Account for 1 in 5 of New HIV Infections in Seattle MSM” to learn more.