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Current HIV/AIDS Reports
Published in: Current HIV/AIDS Reports 1/2019

01-02-2019 | Care | Behavioral Bio-Medical Interface (JL Brown and RJ DiClemente, Section Editors)

The Association Between Marijuana Use and HIV Continuum of Care Outcomes: a Systematic Review

Authors: LaTrice Montgomery, Kara Bagot, Jennifer L. Brown, Angela M. Haeny

Published in: Current HIV/AIDS Reports | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Approximately 77% of HIV-infected adults report lifetime marijuana use. Given the high rates and social acceptability of marijuana use among HIV-infected individuals, it is important to gain a stronger understanding of if, and how, marijuana impacts HIV care cascade outcomes. The purpose of this study is to systematically review recent articles that assess the relationship between marijuana use and HIV continuum of care outcomes.

Recent Findings

One hundred and ninety articles from PubMed were considered for inclusion, and 15 were included in the review. The studies focus on marijuana use among HIV-infected individuals aware of their serostatus (k = 4), individuals engaged in treatment (k = 1), marijuana use in association with adherence to antiretroviral medications (k = 6), and marijuana use in relation to multiple stages of the HIV care cascade (k = 4). Preliminary findings from the small number of studies revealed an association between marijuana use, especially current heavy use, and HIV seropositivity. However, results from studies assessing marijuana use and treatment engagement and adherence to antiretroviral medications were inconsistent and inconclusive.

Summary

Additional research is needed to assess the nuanced relationship between marijuana use and HIV continuum of care outcomes, especially among subgroups of HIV-infected individuals, such as men who have sex with men and young adults.
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Metadata
Title
The Association Between Marijuana Use and HIV Continuum of Care Outcomes: a Systematic Review
Authors
LaTrice Montgomery
Kara Bagot
Jennifer L. Brown
Angela M. Haeny
Publication date
01-02-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current HIV/AIDS Reports / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1548-3568
Electronic ISSN: 1548-3576
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-019-00422-z

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