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HIV Am I at risk?
Some behavior is more risky than others. It is important to recognize that risk factors are not the direct cause of disease. HIV affects people at every point on the risk spectrum and many people who are most "at risk" for HIV infection never become infected. Understanding HIV risk factors can help you better evaluate your own risk.
Some of the most common behavioral risk factors include:
High Risk
Having unprotected anal or vaginal sex with an HIV-infected person or with a person whose HIV status is unknown
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Having multiple sexual partners
Having sex with sex workers
Having sex with IV drug users
Sharing syringes or needles
Using nonsterile needles for piercing or tattooing
Low Risk
Having vaginal or anal sex with a condom
Oral sex
Other factors that may put one at risk for HIV infection include
Another sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, or hepatitis
Having been the victim of sexual assault
Having sex while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Having a mother who had HIV when you were born
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Did You Know? ...
Interesting Facts and Statistics:
In 2008, as in prior years, the rate of current illegal drug use among persons aged 12 or older was higher for boys than for girls (9.9 vs. 6.3 percent, respectively). Boys were more likely than girls to be past month users of marijuana (7.9 vs. 4.4 percent). However, boys and girls had similar rates of past month nonmedical use of psychotherapeutic drugs (2.6 and 2.4 percent, respectively), pain relievers (2.0 and 1.8 percent), tranquilizers (0.7 and 0.8 percent), stimulants (0.4 percent for both), methamphetamine (0.1 percent for both), and sedatives (0.1 percent for both).
In addition to being marketed as "bath salts", some of these new designer drugs are also being sold as bath crystals, plant food and herbal incense.
Numerous inhalants are located in the utility cabinets of many homes. Some examples of inhalants are air fresheners, markers, glue, fingernail polish, and many common household cleaners.
Out-of-school exposure to drug or alcohol prevention messages in the past year was reported by 81.1 percent of teens aged 12 to 17 in 2005, a decline from 83.0 percent in 2004. Past month rates of use of any illegal drug, marijuana, any illegal drug other than marijuana, alcohol, and binge alcohol among those reporting no exposure to drug or alcohol prevention messages outside of school were all similar to rates among those who reported that they had seen prevention messages outside of school. Past month cigarette use showed a significant difference (12.6 percent among those who had not been exposed vs. 10.3 percent among those who had).
Heroin withdrawal begins as early as a few hours after the drug was last used. The body needs time to recover, and heroin withdrawal symptoms result. Heroin withdrawal can occur whenever any chronic use is discontinued or reduced. Users also experience severe craving for the drug during withdrawal, precipitating continued abuse and/or relapse. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and typically subside after about a week; however, some individuals may show persistent withdrawal symptoms for months. Some people experience heroin withdrawal during hospitalization for health conditions other than their addiction. There are a few people in these circumstances that do not even realize they are experiencing withdrawal and think they just have the flu.
In 2008, adults aged 18 or older with past year MDE had higher rates of past year illegal drug use than those without MDE (27.2 vs. 13.0 percent). A similar pattern was observed for specific types of past year illegal drug use, such as the use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or hallucinogens and the nonmedical use of prescription-type psychotherapeutics.
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