Ju ly
limili; ivi
21.2000 « J u s t m a t ) 1
mews
he gcxxl news has dominated the
vention program targeting HIV-positive youths
press and the psyches of gay men
and adults also will he explored with the aim of
across the country.
reducing reinfection and maximizing treatment
Since 1995 and the availability
adherence.
of highly active antiretroviral
Cascade AIDS Project serves almost 2,000
treatment (HAART), HIV-positive gay men
people with HIV. While 68 percent of the orga
have been living longer and more productive
nization’s clients are gay and bisexual men, 32
lives. New cases of AIDS and deaths attributed
percent are heterosexual. People of color make
to AIDS have been in decline.
up 25 percent of the agency’s clients.
But the good news isn’t so gixxl any longer.
The Multnomah County Health Depart
Since July 1998, the number of diagnosed
ment estimates that, although people of color
AIDS cases and deaths caused by the disease in
make up only 12 percent of Oregon’s popula
this country has remained roughly stable rather
tion, they represented 18 percent of all AIDS
than declining as in previ
ous years, according to the
^Multnomah 3 Washington counties joined forces
federal Centers for Disease
to provide fr
Control and Prevention.
Pride 2000 la
Additionally, the CD C
estimates 40,000 people in
the United States become
HIV-positive each year.
One study released by
the C D C at the 13th
International AIDS C on
ference in Durban, South
Africa, suggests only one-
third of U.S. patients
might achieve long-term
suppression
of
HIV
through HAART. These
treatments, often costing
as much as $15,000 annu
ally, lead to at least 12
m onths’ suppression of
HIV in only about one-
third of HAART patients.
HA ART involves a Mew information about AIDS indicates prevention
combination of three or efforts must be redirected by Jo n a th a n K ipp
more anti-H IV drugs,
including two of the drugs
known as nucleoside analog reverse transcrip cases as of 1998, the most recent data available.
tase inhibitors (NARTIs), as well as one or more Oregon, meanwhile, had 4,363 people with
protease inhibitors.
AIDS— a little more than one-half of 1 percent
Although 2 percent to 4 percent of the gen of all U.S. AIDS cases.
eral population is considered at risk for con
After years of service agencies promoting
tracting HIV, the CD C reports infection rates
HIV testing, researchers now find young gay and
continue to he troublingly high among gay men.
bisexual men aren’t getting tested at optimal
They are 17 times more likely to he HIV-posi rates. More than one in five never have been
tive than heterosexuals. In fact, CDC literature
tested for HIV, and more than half haven’t been
says gay men still have the greatest risk for HIV
tested in the past six months, according to one
infection in the United States.
C D C report.
“While we are pleased that we have been
But education about testing does work. Men
able to maintain progress and prevent increases who have been exposed to a variety of preven
in HIV infection in recent years, we are allow tion strategies— fliers, workshops, advertise
ing far too many infections to continue,” Dr.
ments—ate more likely to get tested, particular
Helen Gayle, director of the National Center
ly if they know of a place where they feel com
for HIV/STD/TB Prevention at
fortable or at ease, one study
shows.
the CDC, told Just Out. “We
One CDC study
Historically, prevention efforts
have the tools to essentially stop
indicates an
have been aimed at people with-
the U.S. epidemic. W hat we
need is the will and the resources ¡n frp n d n n n u m b e r o f out
®ut to^ay* w' ch more
to do it."
.....
. z
and more HIV-positive people
Experts say multiple factors MIV~p0SltlVB (JQy IJ1BI1 surviving longer, education efforts
must be addressed in working to
q ^ q gnQOQiflQ ¡fl
have to ^ redirected to include
decrease HIV prevalence among
** j* * .
HIV-positive individuals, experts
gay men. Many gay men think UnpfOtBCtBO 0P01 SBX. say.
Bruner says one survey shows
HIV is no longer a serious threat;
others, particularly older gay men, are experi half of the people receiving HIV services claim
encing “prevention burnout” and are not recep to be participating in unsafe sex practices.
tive to old and often overused messages. In addi Before, HIV/AIDS agencies adhered to a clear
tion, new generations of gay and bisexual men division between services and education: You
have come of age during the epidemic and must either had HIV or AIDS and needed services, or
agencies were educating people on how to keep
he reached by educational efforts.
from
getting the disease. Agencies no longer can
One C D C study indicates an increasing
number of HIV-positive gay men are engaging operate like this, he says.
“That artificial brick wall is bogus,” Bruner
in unprotected anal sex.
adds.
He says clients receiving services are a
Cascade AIDS Project is retargeting its exist
ing HIV/AIDS education resources. Resources bridge to people who need more education.
Bruner wants to get HIV-positive clients educat
that once focused on a “softer model,” executive
ed
about prevention so the agency can use them
director Thomas Bruner says, now will be used
on a more targeted prevention model. Special as peer educators for those at highest risk within
programs will be targeted at women, people of their communities. HIV-positive clients also
need education to encourage safe sexual prac
color, injection drug users, and gay and bisexual
tices and prevent further spread of the virus.
men at highest behavioral risk. A secondary pre-
I t ’ s N ot O ver
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