Cingles Info

New Study Reports Alarming Rates of HIV and HCV Among African American and
Latino American Drug Injectors
Former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Joycelyn Elders Backs Needle Exchange
Programs to Fight Spread of HIV and Hepatitis C Among Drug Injectors
NEW YORK, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- A study released this week found among drug
injectors, African Americans are five times as likely to get HIV than whites and
Latinos are one-and-a-half times as likely. The study also found that 50 to 80
percent of needle drug users become hepatitis C positive within six to 12 months
of beginning injection drug use, making up for about half of new hepatitis C
cases in the U.S. This study was released by The Dogwood Center, an
independent, nonprofit research organization, in conjunction with the Harm
Reduction Coalition, a group committed to reducing drug-related harm.
"This powerful report brings home the severity of the problem of AIDS spread
through dirty needles. We have got to be about preventing disease," said former
U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Joycelyn Elders. "Silence about the
importance of needle access programs is causing the deaths of thousands of our
bright young black and Latino men and women. Time is slipping away. Our bright
young people are slipping away."
The study, "Health Emergency: The Spread of Drug-Related AIDS and Hepatitis C
Among African Americans and Latinos," is the fifth study in a series detailing
the impact of the injection-related AIDS and hepatitis C epidemic on African
Americans and Latinos. The Dogwood Center has been documenting the spread of
AIDS and hepatitis C through the "Health Emergency" series since 1995.
The study also examines methods of disease prevention, specifically, the need
for more studies to determine the benefit/critical importance of needle exchange
programs among injecting drug users. According to "Health
Emergency," there have been eight federally funded research studies that found
needle exchange programs slow the spread of HIV and do not increase drug use. In
addition, the latest United Nations report on worldwide AIDS prevention also
points to the importance of sterile needles for HIV prevention.
"Through this study, we are able to prove that syringe exchange is effective HIV
prevention," said Maria Chavez, California Director of the Harm Reduction
Coalition. "We firmly believe that with more, federally-funded needle
exchange programs, we will be able to help prevent the further spread of
blood-borne disease like HIV and hepatitis C."
The study also examined the benefit of treating people with drug addiction in
helping prevent the spread of AIDS and the struggles that come with treating
those that are disadvantaged and disproportionately affected by HIV and
hepatitis C.
"New AIDS and hepatitis C treatments have extended life for many thousands of
patients," said Chavez. "Unfortunately, many African American and Latino
patients are not benefiting as much as whites from the new treatments. The
outcomes of this study underscore the critical need for action to be taken on
behalf of these communities to ensure that they are receiving the information
and medication they need to fight the spread of these diseases."
Additional Study Facts and Findings
* Clean needles save lives -- According to the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC), using sterile syringes only once remains the safest, most effective
approach to limiting HIV transmission among injection drug users who cannot or
will not stop injecting drugs.
* Cost Effective -- It is three times more expensive to provide medical
treatment for one person sick with HIV/AIDS than to prevent one new HIV
infection using needle exchange programs and pharmacy sale of syringes.
* Hepatitis C -- With hepatitis C, as with AIDS, is a blood-borne disease where
a major factor in the spread of the disease is sharing needles.
* Women, Children and Families -- With thousands of motherless children and
about 60 percent of all AIDS cases among women caused directly or indirectly by
HIV-infected needles, the case for clean-needle programs to save the lives of
women and children and prevent the destruction of families could not be
stronger. Some 80 percent of infants born with HIV are African American or
Latino.
* Lack of health care -- Sub-optimal health care received by African American
and Latino people with AIDS is translating into more infections that might be
the case if these people were receiving care comparable to that received by
whites.
* Bridge to Treatment -- Every needs exchange program in the country serves as a
major entry point to drug treatment for drug injectors.
Full copies of "Health Emergency: The Spread of Drug-Related AIDS and Hepatitis
C Among African Americans and Latinos" can be obtained by contacting the Harm
Reduction Coalition at he2003@... or by
logging on to http://www.harmreductions.org.
About Dogwood Center
The Dogwood Center is an independent, nonprofit research organization concerned
with social justice issues related to drugs and AIDS.
The director of The Dogwood Center is Dawn Day, an activist scholar with over
thirty years of experience as a researcher and writer on social issues. Dr. Day
has a Ph.D. in sociology and an MSW in social work, both from the
University of Michigan.
About Harm Reduction Coalition
Harm Reduction Coalition is committed to reducing drug-related harm, including
HIV, Hepatitis, homelessness, violence and death among individuals and
communities. HRC believes in every drug user's right to health and
well-being, as well as in their competency to protect and help themselves, their
loved ones, and their communities. HRC forms part of a broader progressive
movement of individuals and organizations seeking to challenge the social,
cultural and economic structures -- including current drug policy-that foster
and sustain disadvantage, discrimination and denial of civil liberties and human
rights. Founded in 1993, HRC has offices in both Oakland, California and New
York City.
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SOURCE Harm Reduction Coalition; The Dogwood Center
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