You Wanna Buy Some Death Sticks?

By: Jonathan J. Pena

At the age of 15, I took a drag off of my first cigarette and like many teens it was a response to a curious nature that was coupled heavily by peer pressure. The cool menthol taste coating my throat gave me excitement knowing that in a few seconds I would be exhaling a puff of cascading smoke in front of my peers. From that point on, I can remember smoking up to two packs of cigarettes a day. My lungs hurt just thinking about it now. Smoking cigarettes, as we all know, is a terrible habit to pick up. It has many damaging chemicals and compounds that can lead to some serious illnesses that can be fatal. Living with HIV requires a focus on living a healthier life, so it begs the question: what are the consequences of lighting up while on antiretroviral treatment?

Photo Source: Star Wars: The Clone Wars

In the United States, more than 4 in 10 people living with HIV are smokers, and people within this population are at great risk of dying from lung cancer according to a recent article published in POZ magazine. They also highlighted findings from a preceding published Danish research study in 2012 indicating that those who smoked and also were HIV-positive would lose 12 years of life in comparison to nonsmokers.[1] Poof, up in smoke! 

An additional study was noted by POZ Magazine from the research team at Massachusetts General Hospital that published their findings in JAMA Internal Medicine. They were interested in finding the estimated risk of lung cancer with people living with HIV in the United States. Through computer simulation the parameter of interest also include current, former smokers and those who never smoked. The study estimated that 25 percent of people who were smokers, HIV-positive and adherent to their antiretroviral (ARV) therapy would die of lung cancer. That number is estimated to be 6 percent if a smoker quits by 40 years of age.[2]

Some additional information was published by NAM's AIDS Map that further illustrates the growing concern with smoking and being HIV-positive. They indicated that in 2015, 40 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States were smokers. This was in contrast to only 15 percent of the general public. Additionally, what their finding show is that those who are adherent to their medication are 6 to 13 times more likely to die of lung cancer instead of an AIDS related sickness.[3]

I smoked for many years even after my HIV-positive diagnosis. I can understand why so many people living with HIV smoke. As a former smoker, I saw smoking as the one vice that I was able to allot myself because, heck, I was already HIV-positive so why the hell not? Thankfully, through fantastic leaps in modern medicine and no small amount of personal maturity, I am able to light up my life with healthier alternatives like exercising, eating well and continuing to adhere to my medication.

We owe it to ourselves to be more health conscious on what we put into our bodies, especially for those of us living with the virus. Our hands have the ability to do so many great things that involve creation, innovation, and love but all of that would be diminished or lost if we decide to replace it with "death" sticks.

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates. 

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[1] POZ Magazine (2017, September 18); 1 in 4 Smokers on Successful HIV Treatment Projected to Die of Lung Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.poz.com/article/1-4-smokers-successful-hiv-treatment-projected-die-lung-cancer.
[2] POZ Magazine (2017, September 18); 1 in 4 Smokers on Successful HIV Treatment Projected to Die of Lung Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.poz.com/article/1-4-smokers-successful-hiv-treatment-projected-die-lung-cancer.
[3] Alcom, Keith. (2017, September 19). Smokers with HIV doing well on treatment now at greater risk of lung cancer than AIDS. NAM Publications. Retrieved from https://www.aidsmap.com/Smokers-with-HIV-now-at-greater-risk-of-lung-cancer-than-AIDS/page/3173651/.