SMAD How to cite this article Devóglio LL, Paulino GB, Duarte MTC, Godoy I. Meanings attributed to smoking by people living with HIV. SMAD, Rev Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool Drog. 2023 Jul.-Sept.;19(3):7-16 [cited day month year ]. Available from: URL . https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2023.187514 SMAD, Rev. Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool Drog. 2023 Jul.-Sept.;19(3):7-16 DOI: 10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2023.187514 www.revistas.usp.br/smad/ * Paper extracted from doctoral dissertation “Tabagismo em pessoas que vivem com HIV/aids”, presented to Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. 1 Fundação Hermínio Ometto, Araras, SP, Brazil. 2 Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Enfermagem, Campinas, SP, Brazil. 3 Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Faculdade de Medicina, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. 4 Centro Universitário Claretiano, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. Ligia Lopes Devóglio 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8429-4346 Giovanne Bento Paulino 2 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3912-8023 Marli Teresinha Cassamassimo Duarte 3 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9582-2944 Ilda de Godoy 4 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8974-7332 Objective: to understand the meanings of smoking in the lives of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus. Methodology: a qualitative research study that included 38 smokers living with the human immunodeficiency virus, treated at specialized outpatient clinics in the inland of São Paulo. The data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the methodological framework of the Collective Subject Discourse. Results: most of the respondents were male (63.1%), with a mean age of 41.8±10.4 years old; 10.5% used illicit drugs; 44.7% drank alcoholic beverages; and 63.1% did not practice physical activities. Three different central ideas emerged from the testimonies: I) It gives me pleasure, relieves stress and anxiety; it is a companion, but it causes harm, regret and hatred; II) It is associated with my routine, with drinking, drugs, coffee and friends; and III) My relationship with smoking after discovering the human immunodeficiency virus. Conclusion: tobacco use was related to emotional and behavioral conditions and to the human immunodeficiency virus infection. Recognizing the meanings of smoking may favor tobacco prevention and control strategies in this population group. Descriptors: Smoking; HIV; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Qualitative Research Meanings attributed to smoking by people living with HIV*