In the United States there is an official separation of church and state. Individualism is encouraged. In the Muslim community, this is not necessarily the case. It would be extremely difficult to councel the Muslim clients without better understanding how they see the world.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, continue to be spread mainly through unprot- ected heterosexual and homosexual activity, contaminated intravenous needles and to a lesser degree, through prenatal infection and contaminated blood products

However, because AIDS was seen as a homosexual disease at the beginning of the epidemic, many Muslims think they are immune from HIV infection. Muslims need to understand that AIDS spreads through heterosexual intercourse with someone carrying the virus both from men to women and women to men.

The primary prevention message for the Muslim community is: no intravenous or other drug use and total abstinence before and in-between marriages. Chastity and modesty for both males and females is emphasized in the Holy Qur’an and hadith.

On the surface, and by western standards, abstaining from any sexual activity appears to be a difficult request, when we culturally in America are constantly surrounded by sexually explicate imagery and suggestions. The Muslim client understands and more importantly, accepts these conditions as an act of faith and compliance.

Islam requires spouses to tell marriage partner about any condition, including HIV-infection, which can affect health. There are no objections to the use of condoms when used to protect a spouse’s health.

Islam prohibits anal intercourse. Sex during a woman’s menstruation is also prohibited.

Islam prohibits all drugs and intoxicating substance as this can cause damage to the brain and impair judgement. Muslims with alcohol and/or drug high risk behaviors are strongly encouraged to seek treatment to sustain from continuing to consume intoxicants.

In the United States, many masjids (Mosques), have an Islamic version of Narcotics Anonymous. Counselors can contact the local masjids for further information.