FAQs • Shelby County Health Dept., TN • CivicEngage

How does substance abuse affect treatment of tuberculosis?: People who engage in substance abuse frequently while on treatment for TBD take longer to convert to inactive disease (TBI), become non-infectious, and to feel better overall. The body cannot absorb the antibiotics into the bloodstream because drugs like alcohol cause malabsorption. Drugs cause liver enzymes to be high, and if they remain high while on treatment for TBI, the healthcare provider will stop treatment until the patient stops illicit drug use activity. This can also lead to a form of drug resistant TB in the future if the patient does progress to active disease. Here at SCHD, we strongly urge that patients please refrain from any drug use while on treatment and within the future.

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Tuberculosis Comorbidities & Risk Factors

1. Does HIV make a person more susceptible to TB?: HIV does make an individual more susceptible to tuberculosis. A weakened immune system increases the likelihood of converting to tuberculosis disease. The diagnosis also makes treatment somewhat more difficult due to drug interaction complications that could from HIV and TBD medications being administered at the same time.

2. How does substance abuse affect treatment of tuberculosis?: People who engage in substance abuse frequently while on treatment for TBD take longer to convert to inactive disease (TBI), become non-infectious, and to feel better overall. The body cannot absorb the antibiotics into the bloodstream because drugs like alcohol cause malabsorption. Drugs cause liver enzymes to be high, and if they remain high while on treatment for TBI, the healthcare provider will stop treatment until the patient stops illicit drug use activity. This can also lead to a form of drug resistant TB in the future if the patient does progress to active disease. Here at SCHD, we strongly urge that patients please refrain from any drug use while on treatment and within the future.