The co-occurrence of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) for people living with HIV (PLWH) may impact HIV transmission, morbidity, and mortality but is not a contraindication for HIV treatments such as antiretroviral therapy (ART). Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) direct clinicians to screen for potential mental health disorders and provide ART to PLWH and SUD, but education is required for clinicians to understand and meet the treatment challenges for these individuals and choose between the various ART treatment options to meet their unique needs.
This CMEO BriefCase entitled, People Living with HIV (PLWH) and Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD): Addressing Barriers to Viral Suppression, will discuss a specific case of an individual who must simultaneously face the challenges of living with HIV as well as having a SUD. Expert faculty will address mental health screening and different ART treatment options for HIV given the difficulties and unique barriers faced by patients with a comorbid condition of SUD.