# Methamphetamine Use and HIV as Risk Factors for COVID-19

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $152,977

## Abstract

Abstract
 Among men who have sex with men (MSM), there is a resurgent epidemic of methamphetamine (meth)
and other stimulant use that fuels new HIV infections and compromises the benefits of HIV treatment as
prevention. Although MSM living with HIV who use meth can achieve viral suppression, prior research from our
team and others has documented that recent stimulant use amplifies immune dysregulation in treated HIV
infection. MSM living with HIV are also more likely to report amplified behavioral risk such as condomless anal
intercourse that increases risk for HIV acquisition and onward HIV transmission. The scientific premise of this
administrative supplement is that co-occurring meth and HIV will create a double jeopardy for the novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In order to examine the potentially synergistic effects of meth and HIV for
the COVID-19 pandemic, we will enroll 200 MSM in a seroprevalence study testing for IgM and IgG antibodies
to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Using an intact groups design, participants will be enrolled based on
meth use (user versus non-user) by HIV status (positive versus negative). Among men living with HIV, only
those who report an undetectable viral load will be enrolled. Among men who are HIV-negative, only those who
are not currently taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) will be enrolled. There will be 50 participants enrolled
per group: METH+HIV+, METH+HIV-, METH-HIV+, and METH-HIV-. The primary hypothesis is that those
with co-occurring meth use and HIV (METH+HIV+) will display the greatest seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2
relative to meth or HIV alone (METH+HIV- or METH-HIV+) or controls (METH-HIV-). We will also examine the
extent to which co-occurring meth and HIV are indirectly linked to higher SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence via
alterations in gut-immune dysregulation, smoking behaviors, and decreased adherence to social distancing
guidelines. This supplement will provide some of the first data regarding whether and how those with co-
occurring meth use and HIV are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This represents a crucial first step
to identifying high priority populations that will directly inform the development bio-behavioral interventions to
mitigate risk for COVID-19. These findings will also inform targeted public health efforts to “flatten the
curve” of community-level SARS-CoV-2 transmission in this rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10140075
- **Project number:** 3R01DA049843-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Adam Wayne Carrico
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $152,977
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10140075

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10140075, Methamphetamine Use and HIV as Risk Factors for COVID-19 (3R01DA049843-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10140075. Licensed CC0.

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