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“Sometimes I didn’t get enough sleep, but I have to work just for mydaily life.”(Male, 33 yrs, No formal education, Refugee)“Yes, it has really affected (me), because I can’t sit long and stand long.”(Male, 30 yrs, No formal education, Refugee)Drug users said they were already having financial difficulties due to drug addiction,being diagnosed with HIV and requiring money for medication further compounded theirproblem. However, a few of them continued to find whatever odd jobs they could tosurvive when not under the influence of drugs. One even recounted his past when he hadto commit crime to feed his drug habit viz. RM1500 per month for heroin.“Financially then I had to look for odd jobs like selling VCD like thatbecause I need to survive you see. Selling VCD and sometimes I cookwith although small, small, small ah...restaurant.Ya, is already far, veryfar different...because ah...before I work as...I started architecture course Igo for higher admin(instration) in YTL Corporation. So I ...drawing asalary of 6000, so when I was on drugs, I relapse and then I leave thecompany. I decided on it because I leave a bad name in that place becauseI was not punctual.”(Male, 49 yrs, University education, DU)“Dulu saya terlibat dengan heroin....Saya rasa ah...mencari wangtu...susah sangatlah. Saya nak habiskan pun senang juga. Sebab sayacara gaya hidup saya memang havoc...Bila saya nak bekerja saya rasaduit saya yang kerja tu, saya nak menghabiskan untuk heroin. Untuksebulan kerja, kalau satu hari kita menggunakan RM50, sebulan dahRM1500. Kalau semata-semata dia nak habiskan untuk me...menghisapheroin ini, lebih baik saya buat jenayah.”(“In the past, I was involved with heroin...I felt ah...looking formoney...was very difficult. (But) I want to spend money it is so easy.Because my lifestyle is truly havoc...When I work, I feel the money fromthe work, I just want to spend it all on heroin. For one month work, if oneday use RM 50, one month already RM1500. If all the money is to bespent on heroin, it’s better I commit crime.”)(Male, 32 yrs, Lower secondary education, DU)Economic burden of HIVWith regards to the impact HIV diagnosis has on expenses, the majority would say thebulk of it would be spent on buying medication and supplements (Vitamin C, fish oil,spirulina) to maintain their health. The constant monitoring of the response to treatmentin terms of trips to the hospital to check on their CD count also takes a toll on theirexpenses. This sum varies from RM 350 to RM 2000 monthly.“The first thing, ya...finance is...every month have to pay...RM300 formedication.Three to six months have to pay RM400 for the blood70