Also, while we are looking at evidence for one side or the other, I should present some of the recent evidence that supports the Deusberg hypothesis, namely that cocaine use can cause HIV progression and AIDS-defining illness. Heavy cocaine use and HIV+ status are extremely correlated, the question is one then of causation.

Just search for "cocaine cd4 counts"| From a rat study linked here

We noted a 200- to 300-fold increase in HIV RNA copy numbers in the peripheral blood obtained from cocaine-treated, HIV-infected animals when compared with HIV-infected controlsExposure to cocaine alone did not affect the implantation of PBL, suggesting a specific interaction between cocaine and HIV. This report describes a model for evaluating HIV cofactors and supports cocaine’s role in the development and progression of AIDS.

Even more interesting - an abstract from a more recent study showing that crack cocaine can cause AIDS independently (in women at least)

CONCLUSION: Use of crack cocaine independently predicts AIDS-related mortality, immunologic and virologic markers of HIV-1 disease progression, and development of AIDS-defining illnesses among women.

A blog discussion of this here

Perhaps the tide's are turning in Deusberg's favor?