HIV

THE TRUTH ABOUT HIV

SLANG:THE VIRUS/ 

HI-FIVE/THE BUG/

THE DEADLIEST CATCH

GET THE FACTS

HIV AFFECTS YOUR BODY. The human immunodeficiency virus 

(HIV) weakens your body’s immune system, making it less able to 

fight against diseases and infections. The virus is spread through 

contact with certain bodily fluids, including blood, semen, preseminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk from a 

person with HIV.1 The virus can also be spread through highrisk drug use such as injecting drugs and sharing equipment used 

with drug injection.

HIV AFFECTS YOUTH—THOUGH MANY YOUNG PEOPLE DON’T 

KNOW THEY HAVE HIV. In 2017, the number of youth ages 13 to 

24 who received an HIV diagnosis reached 8,164.2 However, 

this age group is the least likely to know their HIV status: In 

2015, an estimated 51 percent of those living with HIV were 

unaware they had been infected.3

HIV IS PREVENTABLE. Abstaining from sex, using protection 

during sex, and avoiding drug use can help prevent HIV infection. 

There also are HIV prevention medicines such as pre-exposure 

prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for people 

who don’t have HIV but who are at high risk of becoming infected. 

Among people who inject drugs, PrEP reduces their risk of HIV 

infection by more than 70 percent when taken daily.4

HIV IS TREATABLE. Although there is currently no cure for HIV, 

with proper treatment, a person can live a long and otherwise 

healthy life with HIV and prevent it from progressing to acquired 

immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the most advanced stage of 

HIV infection. Taking HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) as prescribed 

can lower a person’s HIV levels to become undetectable, allowing 

them to live longer, healthier lives while also reducing their risk 

of transmitting HIV.5

? Q&A

Q. CAN I GET HIV FROM TOUCHING A PERSON OR

AN OBJECT?

A. NO. HIV isn’t an airborne virus, and you can’t get

HIV from shaking hands or hugging a person

who is infected. You also can’t get it from

touching objects used by a person with HIV.6

Q. CAN I GET HIV IF I USE DRUGS?

A. Injection drug use is a leading cause of

transmission.7

 Also, alcohol and drugs can affect

your judgment, leading you to engage in risky

behavior such as having unprotected sex. The

best way to reduce your risk of HIV is to avoid

using drugs and other substances.8

Q. WHO IS AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR

GETTING HIV?

A. While those who use IV drugs or have

unprotected sex are at greater risk, HIV can

affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation,

race, ethnicity, gender, or age.9

THE BOTTOM LINE:

HIV is harmful but preventable. Talk to your parents, a 

doctor, a counselor, a teacher, or another adult you trust 

if you have questions.

LEARN MORE:

Get the latest on how HIV affects the brain and body at 

hiv.gov.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIV, CONTACT:

SAMHSA

1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727)

(English and Español)

TTY 1-800-487-4889

www.samhsa.gov 

store.samhsa.gov
1

2

3

KNOW THE RISKS. Because the effects of drugs 

and alcohol use can result in poor judgment, their 

use can lead to risky behaviors that increase the 

chances of getting or transmitting an HIV infection, 

such as unprotected sex or sharing needles when 

injecting drugs. In 2017, 2,389 people who inject 

drugs were diagnosed with HIV.

10

STAY INFORMED. Interactions between HIV 

medicines and illegal drugs can increase the 

risk of harmful side effects. In addition, drug and 

alcohol use can further harm a person with HIV by 

weakening their immune system and damaging 

their liver.11

LOOK AROUND YOU. In 2017, 38,739 people were 

diagnosed with HIV in the U.S., and an estimated 

1.1 million people were living with HIV at the end 

of 2015. Of those people, about 1 in 7 did not know 

they were infected.12

MORE INFORMATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR 

RESOURCES USED IN THIS

“TIPS for TEENS,”

visit store.samhsa.gov or call 

1–877–SAMHSA–7 (1–877–726–4727)

(English and Español).

PEP NO. 20-03-03-002 REVISED 2020

FIND HELP 

AND TREATMENT

For 24/7 free and confidential information and 

treatment referrals in English and Spanish, 

call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at:

1–800–662–HELP (1–800–662–4357)

or visit the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator at 

findtreatment.gov

You also can visit the HIV Testing Sites & Care Services 

Locator at hiv.gov/locator to search for health centers and 

other service providers near you.

1 National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2018). HIV/AIDS: The Basics. AIDSinfo. 

Retrieved from https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/factsheets/19/45/hiv-aids--the-basics

2

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019). HIV in the United 

States and Dependent Areas. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/

statistics/overview/cdc-hiv-us-ataglance.pdf

3

 HIV.gov. (2019). U.S. Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/hivbasics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics

4

 CDC. (2019). PrEP. HIV Basics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/

basics/prep.html

5

 CDC. (2018). HIV Treatment. HIV Basics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/

hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/treatment.html

6

 CDC. (2018). HIV Transmission. HIV Basics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.

gov/hiv/basics/transmission.html

7

 CDC. (2018). Diagnoses of HIV Infection in the United States and Dependent 

Areas, 2017. HIV Surveillance Report, 29. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/

hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-report-2017-vol-29.

pdf

8

 CDC. (2018). HIV Transmission. HIV Basics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.

gov/hiv/basics/transmission.html

9

 HIV.gov. (2017). Who Is at Risk for HIV? Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/

hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/who-is-at-risk-for-hiv

10 HIV.gov. (2019). U.S. Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/hivbasics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics

11 NIH. (2018). HIV and Drug and Alcohol Users. AIDSinfo. Retrieved from https://

aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/25/84/hiv-and-drugand-alcohol-users

12 HIV.gov. (2019). U.S. Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/hivbasics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics