Teens, drugs abuse, and AIDS: the deadly connection: teens who abuse drugs face a risk of getting AIDS and (get this!) of passing it on to the friends they love.World AIDS Day World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 38. takes place every year on December 1. On that day, people all over the planet focus on the challenge of trying both to cure and control its spread. When you think about what a terrible disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, see AIDS. ) is and the huge number of lives it has claimed--a mind-boggling 20 million in 24 years--it seems that every day ought to be World AIDS Day. As a teenager, you might ask, What does this have to do with me? You may not know it, but young people are one of the populations at risk for infection with HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. (human immunodeficiency virus human immunodeficiency virus n. HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A transmissible retrovirus that causes AIDS in humans. , the virus that causes AIDS). Between 1998 and 2000--the most recent years for AIDS-related statistics--about one out of every six new HIV infections were in people between the ages of 13 and 25. We'll say it again--between the ages of 13 and 25! And here's another thing you may not realize--it's a fact that can help keep you and your friends safe from AIDS: According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a 2004 report from NIDA NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA National Institute of Dramatic Arts (Australia) NIDA Northern Ireland Development Agency (UK) NIDA Northern Ireland Dairy Association , behavior associated with drug abuse is now the single largest factor in the spread of HIV infection in the U.S. Nearly 300,000 Americans over the age of 12 who were diagnosed with AIDS between 1998 and 2002 could attribute it, directly or indirectly, to drug abuse. "Drug abuse is inextricably in·ex·tri·ca·ble adj. 1. a. So intricate or entangled as to make escape impossible: an inextricable maze; an inextricable web of deceit. b. linked with the spread, of infectious diseases infectious diseases: see communicable diseases. such as HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ... and hepatitis C Hepatitis C Definition Hepatitis C is a form of liver inflammation that causes primarily a long-lasting (chronic) disease. Acute (newly developed) hepatitis C is rarely observed as the early disease is generally quite mild. ," says NIDA director Nora D. Volkow, M.D. How big a problem is AIDS among young people today? In the U.S., about 20,000 individuals between the ages of 13 and 25 become infected with HIV every year. Let's break that down for you: About 55 young people each day contract HIV, a virus that will sap their defenses against illness and possibly take their lives. It's a very big problem. Soon, you'll find out how and why the disease of drug addiction drug addiction or chemical dependency Physical and/or psychological dependency on a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance (e.g., alcohol, narcotics, nicotine), defined as continued use despite knowing that the substance causes harm. helps set the stage for the disease of AIDS. But first you have to understand exactly what AIDS is and how it spreads. HEADS UP: THE FACTS ABOUT HIV AND HEPATITIS C AIDS and hepatitis C, another viral disease associated with drug abuse, are both blood-borne illnesses. That means the disease-causing viruses are spread when blood or bodily fluids Noun 1. bodily fluid - the liquid parts of the body body fluid, liquid body substance, humour, humor body substance - the substance of the body aqueous humor, aqueous humour - the limpid fluid within the eyeball between the cornea and the lens from an infected person come into contact with the bloodstream of a healthy person. This can happen when injection drug users share needles or when an infected person has sex with an uninfected person without using a latex latex, emulsion of a polymer (e.g., rubber) in water (see colloid). Natural latexes are produced by a number of plants, are usually white in color, and often contain, in addition to rubber, various gums, oils, and waxes. condom, which physically stops transmission of viruses. Once in the body, HIV and hepatitis C begin to cripple crip·ple n. One that is partially disabled or unable to use a limb or limbs. v. To cause to lose the use of a limb or limbs. and kill cells. The viruses latch on to healthy cells and implant their own genetic material, causing the cells to churn out new copies of HIV or hepatitis C. The cells then die. HIV attacks cells in the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. , the body's disease-fighting department. As the illness progresses, patients lose their natural ability to fight off germs, and they fall prey to diseases that are not normally a threat to healthy people. People are considered to have AIDS when the level in their bloodstream of CD4, an immune cell, drops below a certain point. Before that happens, though, a person with HIV can live for years without any symptoms--and can pass the virus to others without realizing it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. (CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation ) estimate that a quarter of the 850,000 to 950,000 infected people in the U.S. don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. they have HIV. There is no vaccine for AIDS and no vaccine for HIV. The hepatitis C virus
Liver cancer is a relatively rare form of cancer but has a high mortality rate. Liver cancers can be classified into two types. and other life-threatening liver diseases Liver Disease Definition Liver disease is a general term for any damage that reduces the functioning of the liver. Description The liver is a large, solid organ located in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen. . There is no cure and no vaccine, but a small percentage of the people who get hepatitis C fight it off with the body's defenses. According to the CDC, about 4 million Americans are infected with the virus. HEADS UP: DRUGS, AIDS, AND BAD DECISIONS Why is drug abuse so closely linked to the spread of AIDS and other blood-borne diseases A blood-borne disease is one that can be spread by contamination by blood. The most common examples are HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and viral haemorrhagic fevers. like hepatitis C? The most obvious answer is injection drugs. According to Dr. Volkow, "Injection drug use has directly and indirectly accounted for more than one-third of AIDS cases in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. ." It is also the leading cause of hepatitis C. Injection drug use refers to when drugs are injected with a needle into the veins or tissue. The most common drugs injected are heroin, cocaine, and certain steroids. Since early in the AIDS epidemic, injection-drug abusers have had a high rate of HIV infection. They are at risk of sharing unsterilized needles with others, and when they do so, they are also at risk of sharing infected blood left behind in the needle and syringe syringe /sy·ringe/ (si-rinj´) (sir´inj) an instrument for injecting liquids into or withdrawing them from any vessel or cavity. . That's one way the virus is spread. Many teens (and adults) who inject drugs know the risks, but do it anyway. Why? Scientists have found that drug addiction is a brain disease in which drugs of abuse change the way the brain functions. For example, the brain's prefrontal cortex Noun 1. prefrontal cortex - the anterior part of the frontal lobe prefrontal lobe cerebral cortex, cerebral mantle, cortex, pallium - the layer of unmyelinated neurons (the grey matter) forming the cortex of the cerebrum is particularly sensitive to addiction--but it also plays an important role in judgment, decision making, and inhibiting or putting the brakes on behaviors. This means that because of their addiction, some injection-drug abusers may not realize that their ability to make decisions is impaired. On one level they may know that needle-sharing could result in the spread of HIV and other diseases, yet on another level they may not be able to use proper judgment or to inhibit actions that could lead to long-term risks for themselves or others. HEADS UP: THE BEHAVIOR CONNECTION Fortunately, injection-drug use among teens is relatively rare. According to the CDC, only about 1 in 50 high school students say they've ever injected an illegal drug. However, choosing to share a contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. needle clearly isn't the only drug-related bad judgment call that can lead to AIDS or hepatitis C. What else can? The effects of drugs on thinking and good judgment can cause teens to take all kinds of risks--and we don't mean risks such as big-wave surfing or extreme snowboarding Extreme snowboarding is a form of Freeride snowboarding that is carried out in extreme terrain, typically containing obstacles such as cliffs, ravines, deep snow, rock gaps and anything else that occurs in a mountain environment. . Sexual risks top the list. In a 1999 NIDA-sponsored study, researchers at the University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky, also referred to as UK, is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. in Lexington surveyed 952 young adults ages 19 to 21 who had been surveyed in eighth grade. Researchers found that those who started using alcohol and marijuana when they were young practiced riskier sexual behavior sexual behavior A person's sexual practices–ie, whether he/she engages in heterosexual or homosexual activity. See Sex life, Sexual life. than those who did not, putting them at higher risk for HW. The study defined risky sexual behavior as "sex with different partners" and "inconsistent use of safe-sex practices," meaning the young adults didn't always use latex condoms. Another, much larger 1998 study based on data collected from 8,450 young people by the CDC had similar findings. Teens who abused drugs or alcohol were more likely to have had two sex partners in the past month--which the study defined as risky sexual behavior that increases the chance of contracting HIV. HEADS UP: A BODY ON DRUGS CAN'T FIGHT BACK Not only do drugs Verb 1. do drugs - use recreational drugs drug ingest, consume, have, take in, take - serve oneself to, or consume regularly; "Have another bowl of chicken soup!"; "I don't take sugar in my coffee" inject - take by injection; "inject heroin" cause teens to take stupid risks that can lead to infections with dangerous viruses, drug abuse can lower your immunity, making it more likely that you'll get HIV, hepatitis C, and other diseases to which you might be exposed. Want proof? One NIDA-sponsored study showed that cocaine use cuts a certain type of immune response immune response n. An integrated bodily response to an antigen, especially one mediated by lymphocytes and involving recognition of antigens by specific antibodies or previously sensitized lymphocytes. by more than half. Researcher John H. Halpern, with colleagues at McLean Hospital McLean Hospital (pronounced 'Mc-Lane') is a psychiatric hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, USA. It is noted for its clinical staff expertise and ground-breaking neuroscience research. and Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. It is a prestigious American medical school located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. , measured levels of a key immune-system fighter cell. They found that for four hours after drug exposure, the body produced less than half the fighter cells it did when cocaine wasn't present. "Even if the blunted immune response lasts only a few hours, it makes it more likely that an infection like HIV or just a common cold can take hold," says Dr. Halpern. HEADS UP: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER In 2005, when 38 million people worldwide are estimated to have been infected with HIM, it's hard to fathom fath·om n. Abbr. fth. or fm. A unit of length equal to 6 feet (1.83 meters), used principally in the measurement and specification of marine depths. tr.v. that just 25 years ago nobody knew what AIDS was. It was so rare, it didn't have a name. It started slowly at first, then progressed with frightening speed--HIV spread from person to person until AIDS became a worldwide epidemic. Through knowledge, you as a teen have real power when it comes to AIDS. Your peer group is at risk. By choosing to avoid drugs, you're also helping to protect yourself and the people you love from the diseases of both drug addiction and MDS MDS, n See temporomandibular pain-dysfunction syndrome. MDS 1 Maternal deprivation syndrome, see there 2 Myelodysplastic syndrome, see there . You know the facts. AIDS simply can't survive without people making bad decisions--decisions that result in new people becoming infected with HIM. If you're a teen who's suffering from drug abuse, there are solutions, and you can get help. For help with a drug problem, go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov to access information about a treatment center near you, or call the National hotline at 1-800-662-HELP. NIDA studies show that people in treatment for injection-drug abuse are up to six times less likely to become infected with HIV than those not in treatment. "There is hope" for people battling addiction, says Dr. Volkow. "Recovery is possible and is happening." In the first installment of this series, you learned about the disease of addiction and why teenagers' brains are uniquely susceptible to the effects of drug abuse. Today, you found out how drug abuse and the disease of addiction can lead to the spread of AIDS and hepatitis C. Check future issues of this magazine for the next Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body. Cutting Edge Disease Detectives When the problems of drug abuse, addiction, and related diseases are solved in the future, it will be thanks to teams of scientists working long and hard on research and solutions. Teens today can contribute by working toward careers that will put them at the center of the action. Here are some possibilities. IMMUNOLOGISTS This is a list of notable immunologists. Pioneers
MOLECULAR ENGINEERS are specialized chemical engineers who create molecules. This emerging scientific speciality is important in the area of pharmaceutical research, where drugs are being designed to hopefully one day stop HIV, hepatitis C, and other viruses that attack the human body. PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALISTS include a wide range of professionals who are concerned about health behaviors of the public. From nutritionists and prevention specialists to research coordinators and biomedical bi·o·med·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to biomedicine. 2. Of, relating to, or involving biological, medical, and physical sciences. scientists, these professionals want to help people choose behaviors that can lower their risk of drug addiction, HIV, and other diseases. Wake-Up Call How HIV/AIDS spread This chart shows how injection-drug use spreads AIDS far beyond just the drug abusers drug abuser n → chi fa uso di droghe themselves. Based on 2002 data, it breaks down the broad category of AIDS-infected people whose infection resulted directly or indirectly from injection-drug use. What percentage of infected people became infected without any direct contact with injection drugs? 48 PERCENT were males who injected drugs of abuse. 22 PERCENT were females who injected drugs of abuse. 30 PERCENT were males and females who had sex partners who injected drugs of abuse. LESS THAN 1 PERCENT were children born to mothers who injected drugs or had sex partners who did. Facts for Real Life Q: DO YOU HAVE TO BE ADDICTED ad·dict·ed adj. 1. Physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance. 2. Compulsively or habitually involved in a practice or behavior, such as gambling. TO DRUGS TO GET DISEASES LIKE AIDS AND HEPATITIS C? A: Absolutely not. It's true that those who are addicted are at much higher risk. That's because they use drugs compulsively and repeatedly without regard for negative consequences. Even so, sharing equipment for injection-drug abuse EVEN ONCE can cause infection, and so can a single episode of unprotected sex Unprotected sex refers to any act of sexual intercourse in which the participants use no form of barrier contraception. Sexually transmitted infections Specifically, unprotected sex with an infected person. Drug Abuse and AIDS: How Young People Are at Risk --A message from Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIDA Dear Teacher: More than ever before, teens today are at risk for the deadly blood-borne illnesses AIDS and hepatitis C. We know for a fact that drug abuse is the single largest factor driving this troubling trend. How is that so? We have long understood that blood-borne viruses are spread by behaviors related to drug use, such as sharing contaminated needles. In addition, research indicates that many drugs of abuse can affect judgment, which means that teens under the influence of drugs are more at risk for behaviors that can lead to the transmission of blood-borne viruses. Perhaps even more disturbing, though, is another fact also at play: Drug abuse causes long-term changes to the parts of the brain responsible for decision making. In this installment of HEADS UP: Real News About Drugs and Your Body, we give students the facts about the connection between teen drug abuse and blood-borne illnesses. We also explain the science of AIDS and hepatitis C and show how research is illuminating new ways to fight and understand these diseases and the disease of addiction. Finally, we remind students that when they are armed with information that will enable them to make smart choices, they are in a unique position to fight the spread of HIV and hepatitis C--creating a safer world for themselves and their peers. Thank you for bringing this enormously important scientific information to your students. You are truly a key player in the fight against addiction and disease. Sincerely, Nora D. Volkow, M.D. Director of NIDA Lesson Plans for Student Activities Preparation: Before beginning the lessons, make two photocopies for each student of Student Activity Reproducible 1 (see "Your Students' Assessment Results" below for more information), and one copy for each student of Student Activity Reproducible 2. Lesson 1: What Do You Know About Teens, Drugs, and Disease? OBJECTIVE To educate students about the connection between drug abuse and blood-borne illnesses, and to test their knowledge of the topic before and after they read the article NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS The National Science Education Standards (NSES) are a set of guidelines for the science education in primary and secondary schools in the United States, as established by the National Research Council in 1996. Life Science; Science in Personal and Social Perspective WHAT YOU WILL DO * Before the lesson begins, hold a class discussion based on these questions: "What do you know about AIDS and hepatitis C?" "What do you think puts people at risk for these diseases?" "How might drug abuse be involved?" * Tell students they are going to see how much they "know about HIV, hepatitis C, and the drug-abuse connection. Distribute copies of Student Activity Reproducible 1. Tell students to write their names on the paper and label it "No. 1." Then have them answer the questions. Collect and grade the papers. * Have students read the article, "Heads Up: Teens, Drug Abuse, and AIDS: The Deadly Connection." Next, hold a discussion based on these questions: How are HIV and hepatitis C transmitted? Are teens at risk? How does drug use help spread these diseases? * Next, tell students it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to see how much they've increased their knowledge. Give them a second copy of Student Activity Reproducible 1. Tell them to write their names on the paper and label it "No. 2." When students have finished, collect the papers, score them, and record your data in the Assessment Results below. * Wrap up the lesson by discussing how students can protect themselves and their friends from AIDS and hepatitis C. ANSWERS TO REPRODUCIBLE: 1. c; 2. d; 3. d; 4. a; 5. c; 6. b; 7. d; 8. a; 9. c; 10. b. Lesson 2: Heads Up: The Rising HIV Rates Among Girls and Women OBJECTIVE Students use scientific data to analyze and draw conclusions about the effects of the worldwide AIDS epidemic on women. NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS Science as Inquiry; Science in Personal and Social Perspective WHAT YOU WILL DO * Tell students that an epidemiologist is a scientist who studies epidemics. Explain that one important way these scientists learn about epidemics is by examining data that show who is developing a particular illness. Studying these statistics and the way they change over time helps scientists figure out the best ways to fight epidemics. Generate discussion by asking students: "Why does knowing who gets a disease help epidemiologists formulate plans to fight the illness?" * Tell students they are now going to look at a table. The table compares the number of HIV infections among girls and women in 10 regions of the world in 2002 and 2004. * Distribute Reproducible 2. Have students complete the reproducible. * Wrap up the lesson by asking students: Why does looking at statistics on a table or graph make it easier to see patterns?" and "What other information and statistics would help AIDS policy-makers figure out how to fight the epidemic?" ANSWERS TO REPRODUCIBLE: 1. Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, and the Caribbean; 2. South and Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, region of Asia (1990 est. pop. 442,500,000), c.1,740,000 sq mi (4,506,600 sq km), bounded roughly by the Indian subcontinent on the west, China on the north, and the Pacific Ocean on the east. ; 3.Answers will vary, but may include "Increase AIDS-education programs for young women" and "Institute programs to fight sex discrimination and empower women." What Do You Know About Teens, Drugs, and Diseases? Test Your knowledge about how drug abuse is linked to AIDS, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), and hepatitis C. Answer the questions below. 1. Next year, people between the ages of 13 and 25 will account for what portion of new HIV infections? a. one tenth. b. one quarter. c. one sixth. d. all. 2. How many people have died from AIDS since the epidemic began? a. 20,000. b. 200,000. c. 2 million. d. 20 million. 3. What does hepatitis C have in common with HIV? a. It is transmitted through contact with infected blood or other body fluids. b. It is caused by a virus. c. A person can spread the disease and not even know he or she has it. d. all of the above. 4. Which of the following is NOT a reason that drug addiction increases a person's risk of getting HIV and hepatitis C? a. The drugs themselves are often contaminated with these viruses. b. Drug addiction harms a person's decision-making ability. c. Drug use can weaken a person's ability to fight off infection. d. Drug addicts tend to follow riskier sexual practices, making it more likely they'll come into contact with the viruses. 5. What part of the body does hepatitis C affect? a. the brain. b. the immune system. c. the liver. d. the kidneys. 6. AIDS destroys the body's immune system, which is responsible for: a. digesting food. b. fighting disease. c. the aging process. d. growth. 7. AIDS researchers have found: a. a cure for AIDS. b. a vaccine to protect against AIDS. c. a cure and a vaccine. d. no cure and no vaccine. 8. The main way injection-drug abusers spread AIDS and hepatitis C is by: a. sharing contaminated drug-injection equipment. b. sneezing To verbally tell somebody about a new and interesting Web site. See viral marketing. and coughing while using drugs. c. selling contaminated drugs. d. inhaling drugs. 9. Drug abuse harms a part of the brain important in long-term decision making. It is: a. the cerebellum cerebellum (sĕr'əbĕl`əm), portion of the brain that coordinates movements of voluntary (skeletal) muscles. It contains about half of the brain's neurons, but these particular nerve cells are so small that the cerebellum accounts for . b. the brain stem brain stem, lower part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord. The upper segment of the human brain stem, the pons, contains nerve fibers that connect the two halves of the cerebellum. . c. the prefrontal cortex. d. the occipital lobe occipital lobe n. The posterior lobe of each cerebral hemisphere, having the shape of a three-sided pyramid and containing the visual center of the brain. . 10. Drug abusers can lower their risk of getting AIDS or hepatitis C by: a. getting extra sleep. b. starting a drug treatment program. c. taking vitamins. d. switching drugs. 1. c; 2. d; 3. d; 4. a; 5. c; 6. b; 7. d; 8. a; 9. c; 10. b. Heads Up: The Rising HIV Rates Among Girls and Women. December 1 was World AIDS Day. The theme was Women, Girls, HIV, and AIDS. This theme was chosen because epidemiologists studying the disease are finding that females don't have the same access to AIDS prevention and treatment services as men. In order to understand how AIDS is affecting women, epidemiologists study data showing how the infection rates change over time. The table below presents some recent data. Look at the table, then answer the questions. How to Fight AIDS in Women Question: What regions of the world are most in need of increased HIV/AIDS services for women? What kinds of services are needed? Background Information for Data Interpretation: The worldwide AIDS epidemic is affecting females in increasing numbers, especially young women and girls. Even so, a recent UNICEF UNICEF (y  `nĭsĕf'), the United Nations Children's Fund, an affiliated agency of the United Nations. survey found that up to half
of young women in countries where AIDS has a high prevalence did not
know the basic facts about AIDS. In addition to a lack of education,
researchers say discrimination against women also puts females at risk.
Why? Most women and girls get HIV from sex partners who practice
high-risk behavior high-risk behavior Public health A lifestyle activity that places a person at ↑ risk of suffering a particular condition. See Safe sex practices. (drug taking and unprotected sex). In many parts of
the world, discrimination makes it impossible for women to speak out
against the men who endanger en·dan·ger tr.v. en·dan·gered, en·dan·ger·ing, en·dan·gers 1. To expose to harm or danger; imperil. 2. To threaten with extinction. them. Now that you have examined the data and considered it in light of the background information, answer these questions. Write your answers on the back of this page. 1. In what three regions are women most affected by HIV, as a percentage of the population of adults living with HIV? 2. In what region is the HIV infection rate among women growing the fastest, as a percentage of the population of adults living with HIV? 3. If you were in charge of world AIDS policy, what would you do to slow the spread of the disease among girls and women?
2002 Number of 2004 Number of
Girls and Women Girls and Women 2002 Total
Living with HIV Living with HIV Adults Living
Region (15-49) * (15-49) * with HIV *
Caribbean 190,000 210,000 388,000
East Asia 160,000 250,000 760,000
Eastern Europe and
Central Asia 330,000 490,000 1,000,000
Latin America 520,000 610,000 1,500,000
North Africa and
Middle East 200,000 250,000 420,000
North America 240,000 260,000 960,000
Oceania 5,000 7,100 28,000
South and Southeast
Asia 1,800,000 2,100,000 6,400,000
Sub-Saharan Africa 12,800,000 13,300,000 22,500,000
Western and Central
Europe 150,000 160,000 600,000
Total * 16,400,000 17,600,000 34,200,000
2004 Total
Adults Living
Region with HIV *
Caribbean 429,000
East Asia 1,100,000
Eastern Europe and
Central Asia 1,400,000
Latin America 1,700,000
North Africa and
Middle East 520,000
North America 1,000,000
Oceania 34,000
South and Southeast
Asia 7,000,000
Sub-Saharan Africa 23,300,000
Western and Central
Europe 640,000
Total * 37,400,000
* All numbers are estimates.
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