Substance use and its relationship to depression, anxiety, and isolation among youth living with HIV

Reductions from lifetime to recent levels of substance use, the time since HIV diagnosis, physical health symptoms, CD4 counts, emotional distress, an d social supports were examined among 227 (20% female; 22% African American , 27% Angle, 35% Latino) youth living with HN (YLH) ages 13 to 24 years. Su bstance use pervaded the lives of these youth. Male YLH had used more drugs , more often, and for longer periods than women. However, there had been ma jor reductions in use. Being male, having high emotional distress, and havi ng fewer negative social supports were significantly associated with greate r reductions in substance use. There was a trend for the length of time tha t an individual was seropositive being associated with reductions in substa nce use. The counterintuitive findings suggest that there must be a re-exam ination of the role of the social support networks of youth living with HN, as well as the ways in which emotional distress interacts with risk behavi ors.