Primary care of the HIV-seropositive chemically dependent patient

Persons with chemical dependency problems account for a large and growing number of cases of HIV/AIDS in the United States. This group poses unique challenges as providers address their medical and psychosocial needs. Although much of the care of substance-using HIV patients is the same as that of non-substance-using patients, differences do exist. Treatment of the underlying chemical dependency is a cornerstone of caring for these patients.