and Alcohol Can We Make a Difference?

Alcohol use is common among people infected with HIV and plays an important role in their health outcomes. Because alcohol use complicates HIV infection and contributes to comorbid diseases, it is important for researchers and practitioners to understand these interactions and to integrate alcohol treatment with medical management of longterm HIV infection and associated comorbidity. The Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) is a large, multisite study of the effects of alcohol use on HIV outcomes in the broader context of aging. A multilevel strategy intervention trial is needed to address the many modifiable implications of alcohol consumption among those receiving treatment for HIV. KEY WORDS: Alcohol consumption; human immunodeficiency virus; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; comorbidity; disease factor; aging; Veterans Aging Cohort study; treatment method Alcohol use is common among people at risk for, and aging with, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and plays a central modifiable role in their health outcomes (Braithwaite et al. 2007; Conigliar