Photo: Gordon Griffiths forecast T “The Treatment“The asPrevention campaignisaboutcreating a The Treatment asPrevention strategy involves Treatment asPrevention strategy asthewaytowards an The campaignpromotes theBC-CfE-pioneered AIDS-free generation. Thelaunch includesaninteractive can pledge to take the HIV test, share their pledge if they can pledgetotake theHIVtest,share theirpledgeifthey Montaner, director, BC-CfE. “We wanttoengagepeoplein a dialogue about HIV/AIDS, and provide a venue for them a dialogueaboutHIV/AIDS, andprovide avenuefor them social movementtostopthespread of HIV,” saidDr. Julio prevent further HIV infections in our community and, in prevent further HIVinfections inourcommunityand, the process, helpdefeat HIVandAIDS.” to share their experiencesandnormalize testing.Testing wish withfriendsthrough Facebook andTwitter, and website, www.treatmentasprevention.ca, where visitors for HIV is a critical first step to help people stay healthy and for HIVisacriticalfirststeptohelppeoplestayhealthyand if theychoose,share theirpledgewithfriends. learn aboutTreatment asPrevention, HIVandAIDS. to ‘Share thePledge,Take theTest’ bypledging to take avoluntary, confidential HIVtestand he campaigncallsfor sexuallyactivepeople Journal of the BC Centre widespread HIVtestingandadministering The BC CentreThe for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) marked December World 1, AIDS Day, by launching BC-CfE Treatment Prevention as New ‘Share the Pledge, Take the Test’ social media initiative to help end HIV help end the epidemic. the end help epidemic. a social media campaign that encourages the province’s youth to get tested for HIV and in the process, campaign promotes routine testing in HIV anti-HIV drugsknownasHighly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) to to Antiretroviral Therapy(HAART) medically eligible individuals who medically eligibleindividualswho HIV andHIV AIDS research and care. eyes The of the world will again be on itbe BC as moves to normalize HIVtesting and make it the mainstream medical intervention it should be.” should it intervention medical mainstream Over the two past decades, led the has way in for Excellence in HIV/AIDS - Stephen Lewis, founder of the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF), which which (SLF), Foundation Lewis Stephen the of founder Lewis, - Stephen discussing the BC-CfE’s Treatment as Prevention campaign Prevention Treatment as BC-CfE’s the discussing provides care and support to people living with HIV and AIDS in Africa, Africa, in AIDS and HIV with living to people support and care provides See full story above story full See

“Treatment asPrevention isthenewwayforward,” he (UNAIDS) and the Clinton Foundation. (UNAIDS) andtheClintonFoundation. Christy ClarkandDr. PeterAIDSFoundation Executive Montaner marked thelaunchof thetestingcampaignby also decreasing thelevelof HIVinsexualfluidsto are HIVpositive. Thebenefitsof HAARTare twofold: it said. “We needtodoitfor thegood of ourchildren and Prevention isendorsedbyleadingorganizations suchas He addedthat andBCare nowat the Director MaxineDavis, Montanernotedthekey role Peter Centre toapacked housealongsideBCPremier reduces the levelof HIVinthebloodtoundetectable meeting withthecommunityandproviding updates on research andcare. played bytheBCgovernmentingenerously fundingHIV transmission bymore than95percent. the JointUnitedNations Programme onHIV/AIDS through national mediainterviews.Speakingat theDr. the Treatment asPrevention strategy at localeventsand we candoit.” undetectable levels,reducing thelikelihood of HIV forefront of HIV/AIDSinnovation, andTreatment as levels, improving thehealthof peoplewithHIV, while An approximate 2,500peopleinBritishColumbiafrom Voluntary, confidential testingfor HIVwillidentifyand Vancouver CoastalHealthand Providence HealthCare Clark agreed. “Whenyouthinkaboutthesavings for Columbians willBCoptimize efforts andresources to defeat HIV andreach thegoalof anAIDS-free generation. status. Itiscriticalthat testingbeimplemented all walks of life, have HIVandare notaware of their and into the mainstream. Only through comprehensive and intothemainstream. Onlythrough comprehensive HIV testingbeyondwhat are considered at-risk groups as Prevention campaignsare leadingefforts inBCtomove marketing campaigncalled“It’s Different Now”(www. province-wide. programs that normalize HIV testing for all British programs that normalize HIVtestingfor allBritish those familieswhoselovedonesare nowalivetodayor who are no longerstrugglingthewaythat theydid help peoplewithHIVreceive thetreatment theyrequire. before, it’sincalculable,” shesaid. have also recently launched a comprehensive social have alsorecently launchedacomprehensive social itsdifferentnow.org). TheIt’sDifferent NowandTreatment at the Dr. Centre Peter the at Day, AIDS World 1, December on Prevention Treatment as discuss B.C. Premier (left) and Dr. Julio Montaner (right) 41302515 DEC St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, B.C. Hospital, Paul’s St.

2011

Photo: Fernando Prado Stop the Violence BC stirs CATIE debate on cannabis prohibition Organizations address social needs of gay and bisexual men Over the past two months, Stop the Violence BC has The suicide of 15-year-old James Hubley brought to light put the issue of gang violence and crime stemming the horrors of being bullied and served as a reminder that from marijuana prohibition firmly on the public agenda. homophobia, rejection experienced when “coming out”, The coalition’s call to tax and regulate marijuana under a and a lack of sustaining social networks, play a huge role strict public health framework, with the aim of reducing in the health of many gay and bisexual men in .

social harms including gang activity, has been heard Photo: Martin Dee/UBC throughout British Columbia and across Canada. It is reported that one in 10 hate crimes is motivated by sexual orientation, and over 40 per cent of gay and bisexual Since Stop the Violence BC’s public launch on October men report experiencing discrimination. In addition, 27, the media have asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper, research is also showing that epidemics of bullying, racial Premier Christy Clark and mayors throughout the prejudice, depression, substance use, and HIV reinforce province about the ineffectiveness of marijuana each other and lower the overall health of gay and bisexual prohibition and the gang violence associated with it, and men. In addition, poorer health conditions related to these whether they agree with a regulated marijuana market. stresses and social challenges are sometimes linked to high- While some political leaders have not endorsed Stop the risk sex which, in turn, increases the chances of transmitting Violence BC or its position, the coalition has more than Dr. Evan Wood, Co-director of the Urban Health Research HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections. met its goal to generate and drive discussion in the media, Initiative at the BC-CfE and Stop the Violence BC Coalition In response to these issues, some health and social among politicians and within the general public. member, is calling for marijuana to be strictly regulated under a public health framework. agencies serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, “With this overwhelming public support for change, organized crime groups in BC, we must discuss queer, and two-spirited communities are adopting a and the overwhelming evidence of the damage done alternatives to today’s failed laws with a focus on how broader, more social approach to gay and bisexual men’s by marijuana prohibition, one would expect politicians to decrease violence, remove the illicit industry’s profit health to help build personal strength and resilience. to respond,” said a Nov. 7 Vancouver Sun editorial, which motive, and improve public health and safety.” HIM (Health Initiative for Men – www.checkhimout.ca), referenced the Stop the Violence BC campaign. “Our a Vancouver-based agency dedicated to strengthening leaders have a responsibility to implement and support Angus Reid polling data released with the first report the overall health and well-being of gay men, is one measures that will protect the public, rather than doing shows that lawmakers lag far behind public opinion such organization. HIM attends to the physical, sexual, the opposite. And since the evidence is in — since we on revamping marijuana laws in BC. In fact, 87 per cent social and mental health needs of their community. know what will increase and decrease violence — it’s of BC respondents link gang violence to organized crime’s time for politicians to detail exactly how they plan to efforts to control the province’s massive illegal cannabis The Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange reduce gang violence in the future. And it’s time the trade, and a mere 12 per cent of British Columbians (CATIE), is a Canadian source for up-to-date, unbiased public demanded that politicians do so.” support keeping current marijuana laws in place. information about HIV and hepatitis C. CATIE connects people living with HIV or hepatitis C, at-risk The Stop the Violence BC coalition consists of law On November 23rd, four former Vancouver mayors – Larry communities, healthcare providers and community enforcement officials, legal experts, public health officials Campbell, , and – organizations with the knowledge, resources and and academic experts. The coalition is led by some of wrote a joint letter to all BC MPs, MLAs, mayors and expertise to reduce transmission and improve quality of British Columbia’s foremost leaders in public health, councilors urging politicians to reconsider marijuana laws life. For more information on gay men’s dialogue about including British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/ and stop gang violence. The open letter, which demands health, please visit the CATIE website at: www.catie.ca. AIDS (BC-CfE) researchers Dr. Evan Wood, Dr. Julio that politicians recognize that marijuana prohibition has Montaner and Dr. Thomas Kerr. The coalition’s first report, failed and urges them to develop alternative marijuana titled Breaking the Silence, outlines the links between policies that avert the social and criminal harms that stem HAARTbeats cannabis prohibition in BC, the growth of organized crime, directly from cannabis prohibition, received extensive and the expansion of related violence in the province. media coverage and support. Prime Minister lists Bahamas’ recent The report also defines the public health concept known as As a result of the former mayors’ letter, current Vancouver successes in the fight against HIV “regulation” and sets the stage for a much-needed public mayor Gregor Robertson and current Burnaby mayor conversation around alternatives to cannabis prohibition. During the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference on November Derek Corrigan have since come forward to endorse 18, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister of the ending marijuana prohibition. “From a scientific and public health perspective we know Bahamas, recognized the value of treating HIV and AIDS that making marijuana illegal has not achieved its stated The coalition will release more reports and polling early, and noted that recent successes included the objectives of limiting marijuana supply or rates of use,” data in the months to come. But already the campaign decline in new HIV cases, a major reduction in mother- said Dr. Wood, a coalition member and director of the has gained significant attention in the media, with over to-child transmission, and decreased mortality. Urban Health Research Initiative at the BC Centre for 125 broadcast and print stories from across the country, Excellence in HIV/AIDS. “Given that marijuana prohibition Quoted in The Bahamas Weekly, the Prime Minister noted including George Stromboulopoulos, CTV News Channel, has created a massive financial windfall for violent that the Bahamian government funds generic antiretroviral Global BC, the National Post and the Province. drugs for residents, and has been a leader in developing legislation to protect the rights of those living with HIV. In Research addition, the six young people born HIV-positive in the Bahamas are all alive and living relatively normal lives.

“Care is provided for all who need it, irrespective of BC-CfE researchers receive immigration status. This includes clinical care and support, international awards for AIDS research diagnostic testing and antiretroviral treatment,” he said. There is still much work to be done, however. AIDS Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the British Columbia The approach is strongly supported by statistics just remains a leading cause of death among Bahamians Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE), has been released by the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/ aged 25-44 years. awarded the Hope is a Vaccine Award 2011 (International AIDS (UNAIDS), including estimates that 700,000 AIDS- Category) in honour of his worldwide advocacy for related deaths were prevented in 2010 alone due to Treatment as Prevention and his forceful call for expanded improved access to care. “In the absence of a vaccine, the BC Centre for access to antiretroviral therapy. Dr. Montaner shares the Treatment as Prevention approach is our most effective 2011 Award with Dr. Myron Cohen, who received the tool in the fight to end HIV and AIDS,” said Dr. Montaner. Excellence in HIV/AIDS award for his dedication to providing a scientific The Hope is a Vaccine Award is awarded annually around > Improve the health of British Columbians with HIV through foundation for the Treatment as Prevention approach. World AIDS Day on December 1st by the GAIA Vaccine comprehensive research and treatment programs; Foundation. It is awarded to deserving individuals working > Develop cost-effective research and therapeutic protocols; in the international, national, and local fight against HIV/ > Provide educational support AIDS, and highlights the important work done by programs to health-care professionals; > Monitor the impact of HIV/AIDS on B.C. and conduct individuals fighting AIDS and improving HIV care for analyses of the effectiveness of HIV-related programs. people living at the margins of society.

At a special ceremony on November 16th in Ottawa, the Physician Drug Hotline Government of Canada recognized Dr. Kate Shannon 1.800.665.7677 with The Peter Lougheed/CIHR New Investigator Salary St. Paul’s Hospital Pharmacy Hotline Award at the 2011 Canadian Health Research Awards, 1.888.511.6222 hosted by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Website (CIHR) and Prix Galien Canada. www.cfenet.ubc.ca E-mail The award, which recognizes the top-ranked new [email protected] investigator in Canada in 2010, was given to Dr. Shannon for her groundbreaking research on the impact of Funding for the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS prostitution laws on health outcomes. is provided by the B.C. Ministry of Health through Photo: Robert Faubert “It is an honour to be recognized and rewarding to have Pharmacare and the Provincial Health Services Authority. additional attention focused on this important subject,” said Dr. Shannon. Dr. Shannon is also a recipient of a Canadian Institutes of Health Research President Dr. Alain Beaudet presents The Peter Lougheed/CIHR New Investigator Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) Salary Award to Dr. Kate Shannon Career Investigator/Scholar Award this year.