What does drug or heroin addiction have to do with HIV/AIDS?

I keep on hearing from my mom that engaging in drugs would only make me dumber and give me HIV?AIDS. She knows I've been hanging out with some people who do drugs. I haven't tried it, but I'm just curious. I get the dumbing down part, the HIV part, I don't get. What does that have to do with heroin or other drugs?

Truth is, drug abuse and HIV/AIDS are almost inseparable. This is because there is a proliferation of drug paraphernalia sharing. Tourniquets, needles, cotton swabs and cookers are being used by those who do drugs and thus make it easy for the other person to become inflicted with the disease, especially because the virus is easily transmitted to another person by an infected blood or body fluid's contact with an uninfected person's mucous membranes, blood, or broken skin. Also, a person who is under the influence of drugs may have very little control of his own actions. This can cause him to be particularly impulsive and uninhibited, therefore causing him to make rash decisions. This can lead to him performing unsafe sexual activities like performing the intercourse with an infected partner. Once the patient is infected with HIV, this further dulls the brain and puts the individual's life in grave danger.

I hope you don't try drugs. It's not worth the risk and the trouble you'll put yourself in.

Due to intravenous drug use (the sharing of needles) can give a person a higher risk of contracting the HIV/AIDS disease.

she is talking about the needle use and sharing needles to get the high. also once you start to use you are letting your defenses down, and will be more subject to sexual acts that normally you wouldn't do if you were straight, and that is also a risk factor in inheriting HIV/Aids.

heroin addiction and HIV/AIDS have a relationship because of the sharing of needles and sometimes because of unprotected sex.

But even more related to heroin addiction is Hep A, B and C.

Drugs itself do not cause or infect AIDS. However, the re-use of syringes, needles and careless sex while in influence of drugs does increases the risk of having AIDS.
Why destroy your life with drugs.... Hard Work, Sports and Yoga can give you the same 'high' feeling and it is much more long lasting, cheaper and 'high'-class.
Be Safe.

The second guy is right. It is because they are so hooked on heroin that they dont care about cleanliness or self-respect. It over rides all thinking about decency and morality.

So they share needles. Most users would have a guaranteed dose of Hepatitis, especially if they share with people who have been to prison. The risk of AIDS is great when people share needles.

I have used many drugs. Heroin isn't one of them. Speed is bad too. I have never injected drugs. I smoked lots of weed, and even that is a mistake.

Never take heroin or speed. EVER. Also, never hang around with heroin users. Crystal meth is just as bad, but I still think heroin is the most stupid drug to ever take.

Just don't.... Please. Don't use meth either. It is dangerously addictive. Just don't.

Your mom is a little misinformed. People who shoot heroin have a tendency to be careless about the needles they use. That carelessness puts them at risk to catch HIV. Since HIV is not transmissible through casual contact, however, you aren't at risk by simply spending time with people who are at risk.

But then, isn't becoming dumber a good enough reason to stop hanging out with those people?