This population may be both hetero and homosexual as long as there is respect and comfort with issues of sexual orientation. Traditionally segregating HIV positive substance abusers by sexual orientation has been less effective than by segregating this group between early and late onset stages of disease.
The life challenges faced by substance abusing HIV and AIDS patients are more similar when groups are segregated by a disease progression model than any other model, including gender or sexual orientation. Patients dealing with the initial diagnosis and asymptomatic phases may not do well in a group of substance abusers with late stage AIDS, and may be uncomfortable dealing with the obvious health and mortality issues within such a group.
If at all possible, the most effective peer group counseling separates people by disease progression, and them by type of drug abused, and lastly by other issues such as gender, sexual orientation and age. This type of extreme segregation of groups is not usually possible.
page last update Aug 05, 2010
