Opioids and HIV infection: From pain management to addiction treatment

HIV-infected persons are more likely to have chronic pain, receive opioid analgesic treatment, receive higher doses of opioids, and to have substance use disorders and mental illness compared with the general population, putting them at increased risk for opioid use disorder. Management of opioid use in HIV-infected individuals can be complex, and the limited data on opioid treatment in this population are conflicting with regard to its effect on HIV outcomes. Buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder improves HIV outcomes and other outcomes. This article summarizes a presentation by Chinazo O. Cunningham, MD, MS at the IAS–USA continuing education program, Improving the Management of HIV Disease, held in Atlanta, Georgia, in March 2017.