Counseling substance abuse clients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Some of the barriers to effective dual treatment of substance abuse and AIDS-related diagnoses have been detailed in this article, and some practical strategies to improve the response of treatment providers in caring for this difficult population of patients have been offered. While there are many problems associated with the dual diagnosis of substance abuse and AIDS, health care providers and substance abuse treatment professionals can intervene effectively by first recognizing how their own values and anxieties impact on treatment approaches. Next, they can accept substance abuse as a problem that can be treated and the diagnosis of AIDS as one issue of many that needs to be addressed. Finally, they can stay informed about community resources to help them make accurate assessments and to develop effective treatment strategies.