Risky Sex, Addictions, and Communicable Diseases in India: Implications for Health, Development, and Security Rajan Gupta Theoretical Division Los Alamos National laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
[email protected] LAUR 02-5305 This monograph was published as Special Report 8 in the Health and Security Series by the Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute (CBACI), Washington D.C., September 2004. ABSTRACT: This monograph provides a comprehensive and unifying view of a number of health issues confronting India and how, over time, they could impact the stability and security of the nation. New pandemics like HIV/AIDS have confounded attempts at containment because their spread highlights vulnerabilities in social and political norms and behaviors that have historically been ignored. Their spread also exposes a highly inadequate medical and educational infrastructure. To stop the spread of communicable diseases for which risky individual lifestyles and behaviors, societal norms and beliefs, poverty and lack of empowerment, and stigma and discrimination are major factors it is necessary to examine the system as a whole and to develop new paradigms and tools. Sexually transmitted infections and addictions to alcohol and drugs have emerged as a major interconnected global threat. This monograph makes the case that India is highly vulnerable to this threat and major policy changes, an unprecedented cooperation between public and private sector, and an order of magnitude more investment in health and education is needed to prevent a runaway