More Harm From Meth

HIVers who have drug-resistant HIV infections are much more likely to transmit drug-resistant virus to their sexual partners if they use crystal methamphetamine, mostly due to a high rate of unprotected vaginal and anal sex reported among the drug's users.

A survey of 168 men and 21 women in San Francisco, all of whom had drug-resistant HIV infections, showed that meth users were four times more likely to report having unprotected sex with an HIV-negative partner or partner of unknown HIV serostatus than nonusers. Depression, homelessness, and use of the erectile-dysfunction drug Viagra also were linked with increased risky sex.