ABSTRACT
Human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV) infections and intravenous drug use (IVDU) are two linked global health crises since needle sharing is a well-recognized mode of HIV transmission. While HIV-1 infection isthe leading cause ofdeath among Americans 25-44yr old, injectiondrug use now accountsfor about one-third ofall new US AIDS cases reported each year. Drug abuse has been suggested to worsen HIV-associated central nervous system (CNS) disease via unknown mechanisms. The brain is a target organ for both, cocaine and HIV-1. Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has diminished the incidence of HIV-1-associated dementia, milder forms of neurological disease do persist. Increased survival rates resulting from antiretroviral treatment have led to an increase in the prevalence of HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND). The basis of HAND however, remains poorly understood.
