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A new study from the CDC revealed that a recent spike in syphilis cases among persons living in the U.S. may be the result of methamphetamine and injection drug use.
The study revealed that between 2013-2017, the rate of syphilis cases in heterosexual men and women who also use methamphetamine more than doubled .
A key driver of this trend is the noted increase in injection drugs, but most notably the use of methamphetamine . Risky sex behaviors that often accompany such drug use increase the chances of acquiring and transmitting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Such behaviors include multiple sex partners, lack of consistent condom use, as well as exchanging sex for drugs or money.
It’s also important to acknowledge that the very aspects of dealing with a substance use disorder can interfere with efforts to prevent the spread of STDs . Persons who are addicted to drugs generally are less inclined to visit a hospital or medical clinic, and may be hesitant to identify or find sex partners, which can ultimately lead to adverse outcomes as a result of delays in diagnosis and treatment.
For the study, the researchers evaluated self-reported risk behaviors in heterosexual men and women, along with gay and bisexual men who were diagnosed with both primary and secondary syphilis.
The study found that from 2013-2017, the rate of syphilis among women increased nearly 156%, while it only increased 66% among all men. In 2017, the researchers noted that 17% of women with syphilis used methamphetamine, 10.5% used injection drugs, while 6% were found to be using heroin in the past 12 months.
The researchers noted a similar trend among heterosexual men, but not among gay men. What’s important to acknowledge is that the spike in substance use seen in persons diagnosed with syphilis is similar to the increases noted throughout the U.S. among women and heterosexual men seen in the past several years.
The study’s findings demonstrate that 2 major public health concerns--the spike in syphilis cases along with increased substance abuse (particularly methamphetamine) in heterosexuals--represent 2 intersecting epidemics with devastating consequences. MSM among gay and bisexual men had been previously identified as one of the main risk factors leading to increased syphilis cases before findings of the current study were revealed.
While each “epidemic” alone has the potential to increase syphilis cases, the combined threat is daunting and will require public health officials to coordinate responses on both the mental health and medical fronts to ensure that we address and treat both issues.
What’s particularly frustrating from a public health standpoint is that syphilis was nearly eliminated in the U.S. in the past several decades, but has continued to make a resurgence, with a notable increase in women of reproductive age as well as newborns.
It would be ideal if programs designed to prevent and treat STDs and substance use disorder could integrate the findings of this study to provide more comprehensive care for those affected.
