Substance abuse and HIV infection.

Substance abuse facilitates the spread of HIV infection and complicates its management. Successful treatment of HIV disease and other comorbidities in substance abusers requires treatment of substance abuse. At the Clinical Pathway of the Ryan White CARE Act 2002 All Grantee Conference held in Washington, DC, in August 2002, Henry Francis, MD, discussed characteristics of substance abuse in the United States and obstacles and approaches to successful treatment.