Mesh Tandon Maripoza Foundation helps HIV-positive patients with substance abuse treatment DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writertaffet@dallasvoice.com “The disease of addiction is rooted in shame,” said Mesh Tandon, executive director of the Maripoza Foundation.
The new Dallas-based Maripoza Foundation offers substance abuse and chemical sex treatment, intervention and prevention services to those who are HIV-positive.
More than half of new HIV transmission takes place when people are under the influence, Tandon explained. Injection drug use is a contributing factor in 20 percent of all HIV cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control.