Which of the following statements about drug use and disease transmission is correct?

• A. Drug use only affects mental health and not disease transmission.
• B. Drug use always prevents the spread of diseases.
• C. Drug use can increase the spread of diseases, especially when needles are shared.
• D. Drug use has no impact on the spread of diseases.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the relationship between drug use and disease transmission by considering how behaviors associated with drug use can influence health outcomes beyond mental health.
2. Step 2: Recognize that sharing needles or other drug paraphernalia can facilitate the transmission of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, which directly links drug use to increased disease spread.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the incorrect statements by identifying why drug use does not only affect mental health, nor does it prevent disease spread, and why it does have an impact on disease transmission.
4. Step 4: Conclude that the correct statement is the one acknowledging that drug use can increase the spread of diseases, especially through behaviors like sharing needles.
5. Step 5: Summarize that understanding the mechanisms of disease transmission in the context of drug use is crucial for public health interventions and education.