Drug use may be driving jump in syphilis infections

Drug use may be fueling an increase in syphilis transmission among some Americans, according to CDC research released Feb. 14 and cited by Kaiser Health News.

The research shows a link between drug use and syphilis infections among women and heterosexual men. For these groups, use of methamphetamine, heroin and other drugs more than doubled between 2013-17.

While gay men demonstrate the highest rates of syphilis, they did not report similar increases in drug use.

Researchers noted people who use drugs are more likely to practice unsafe sexual behaviors, thereby putting them at greater risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

"I think it's impossible to eradicate syphilis and congenital syphilis unless we are simultaneously addressing the meth-use and IV-use epidemic," Sara Kennedy, MD, medical director of Planned Parenthood Northern California, told KHN.

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