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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
Colorado Value:
Percentage of adults who reported having done any of the following in the past year: injecting any drug other than those prescribed for them; being treated for a sexually transmitted disease; or giving or receiving money or drugs in exchange for sex
Colorado Rank:
Percentage of adults who have served in the U.S. armed forces who reported having done any of the following in the past year: injected any drug other than those prescribed for them; treated for a sexually transmitted disease; or given or received money or drugs in exchange for sex
2.3% - 3.3%
3.4% - 3.8%
3.9% - 4.8%
4.9% - 5.2%
5.3% - 9.7%
No Data
US Value: 5.6%
Top State(s): New Jersey: 4.5%
Bottom State(s): Mississippi: 7.0%
Definition: Percentage of adults who reported having done any of the following in the past year: injecting any drug other than those prescribed for them; being treated for a sexually transmitted disease; or giving or receiving money or drugs in exchange for sex
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune system and if left untreated, can progress to the most severe stage of HIV infection known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV is spread when certain bodily fluids of an HIV-positive person who has a detectable viral load enter the bloodstream of someone without HIV.
When AIDS occurs, a person’s immune system has been severely damaged and they are more likely to develop infections and cancers. While there is no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS, medical therapies can help manage the symptoms.
People who are HIV-positive can also experience HIV-related stigma, which are negative attitudes or beliefs about people who are HIV-positive. HIV-related stigma can discourage people from getting tested and accessing services, and is also associated with negative health outcomes such as depression.
HIV can infect anyone regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or race/ethnicity. However, certain behaviors like unprotected sex and needle/syringe sharing put some groups at higher risk than others.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, populations with a higher prevalence of high-risk HIV behaviors include:
There are steps people can take to lower their risk of being infected with HIV, including:
Not engaging in injection drug use is the best way to avoid HIV infection from drug use, but if that is not possible, the risk of infection can be lowered by using only clean, sterile needles and not sharing needles with anyone. Many communities have started implementing syringe service programs, such as needle exchanges. These programs provide access to sterile needles, safe disposal of used syringes and connections to other resources, such as treatment programs for substance use disorder and treatment care for HIV. Studies have indicated that needle and syringe programs have been effective at reducing new cases of HIV.
People who are diagnosed with HIV should start taking medicine to treat it as soon as possible. The treatment is called antiretroviral therapy (ART) which works by reducing the amount of HIV present in the body. ART can decrease the amount of HIV in the body so much that it becomes undetectable. At that point, the person has effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to someone who is HIV-negative through sex.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a tool to help people find HIV prevention services, including condoms, HIV testing, PrEP and PEP in their area.
Healthy People 2030 has several goals related to HIV, including reducing the number of new HIV infections and increasing the proportion of people living with HIV who know their status.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working on an initiative to reduce new HIV infections by 90% by 2030.
Abdul-Quader, Abu S., Jonathan Feelemyer, Shilpa Modi, Ellen S. Stein, Alya Briceno, Salaam Semaan, Tara Horvath, Gail E. Kennedy, and Don C. Des Jarlais. “Effectiveness of Structural-Level Needle/Syringe Programs to Reduce HCV and HIV Infection Among People Who Inject Drugs: A Systematic Review.” AIDS and Behavior 17, no. 9 (November 2013): 2878–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0593-y.
Rueda, Sergio, Sanjana Mitra, Shiyi Chen, David Gogolishvili, Jason Globerman, Lori Chambers, Mike Wilson, et al. “Examining the Associations between HIV-Related Stigma and Health Outcomes in People Living with HIV/AIDS: A Series of Meta-Analyses.” BMJ Open 6, no. 7 (July 2016): e011453. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011453.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
