A male client attends a community support program for mentally impaired and chemical abusing clients. The client tells the practical nurse (PN) that his drugs of choice are cocaine and heroin. What is the greatest health risk for this client?

A. Diabetes: While chronic drug use can affect metabolism indirectly, diabetes is not an immediate or direct health risk associated with cocaine or heroin use. B. Glaucoma: There is no significant association between cocaine or heroin use and development of glaucoma. This is not a primary concern for this client. C. Hypertension: Cocaine use can acutely increase blood pressure, but it is typically episodic and less likely to be the greatest long-term health risk compared with infectious disease. D. Hepatitis: Intravenous drug use, particularly heroin, increases the risk of bloodborne infections such as hepatitis B and C due to shared needles and unsafe injection practices. This represents the greatest immediate and long-term health risk for this client.