Although more research is needed, the scientific and medical communities continue to develop and disseminate effective HIV prevention and treatment approaches. Three key principles underlie NIDA’s strategy: (1) substance use disorder and HIV are linked in ways that extend beyond injection drug use; (2) substance use disorder and HIV remain intertwined epidemics in the United States and around the world—therefore, SUD treatment is HIV prevention; and (3) the STTR approach, especially when implemented in high-risk populations or settings, can decrease viral load and HIV incidence at a population level, improving outcomes for all. Implementing these evidence-based strategies will bring the United States closer to the goal of an "AIDS-free generation."
