Over 1 million people living with HIV and on anti-retro-viral treatment (ART) in Zambia are at risk of having no medication as a new trend has emerged where some HIV negative people are accessing and abusing ARV’s to enhance their addiction to controlled substances.

Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign (TALC) Programs Manager Felix Mwanza says the abuse of Anti-Retroviral drugs by HIV negative persons has the potential to cause a shortage of the life supporting drug for about 1 million Zambians that need it especially that the quantification of the drug is synonymous to the number of those living with HIV for a stipulated period.

Mr. Mwanza says it is worrying that some people have resorted to using ARV’s as a performance enhancer of drugs such as heroin and cocaine at the expense of HIV positive people whose lives depend on the anti-retroviral treatment.

He says there is need for government and allied stakeholders to look at the issue with the seriousness it deserves before lives of those on Anti-retroviral drugs are put at risk due to shortages resulting from drug abusers accessing the medication.