Associate Professor of Medicine University of Colorado School of Medicine Denver, Colorado
Session Description: People who use drugs often develop substance use disorders which, beyond meeting DSM-5 criteria, also manifest via engagement in risky behavior, such as unsafe injections, unsafe sex, including sex in exchange for drugs or money. These activities carry a risk of contracting and transmitting viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. The possession and use of illicit substances as well as illegal sales of drugs, sex and other forms of criminal activity present a risk for violence, incarceration and sometimes housing insecurity, leading to further susceptibility to infections via open wounds, via the effect of accompanying substance use mediated impairments to healing and immunity and in the case of incarceration and housing insecurity - also via exposure to additional, less common pathogens. Diagnosis and co-management of substance use disorders and infections in people who use drugs in various settings is then further complicated by stigma, avoidance, neglect and logistical issues leading to missed or delayed diagnoses, undertreatment and further transmission. This workshop will detail the relevant co-occurring diagnoses and the settings in which they should be considered, how they can be worked up and managed. We will review information regarding appropriate initial work up and management, referral considerations as well as commonly encountered challenges within various scenarios.
Learning Objectives:
After this activity participants should be able to
Summarize frequently encountered infections in people who engage in substance misuse and associated behaviors
Identify and plan for commonly encountered challenges in the care for patients with these conditions
