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[02] THINK + inside PWAs need to keep talking about their experiences and concerns. [03] REALITY BITES Bite-size HIV/AIDS news from BC and around the world. [05] PROFILES OF OUR PAST A tribute to Brian Farlinger, the founder of AIDS ACTION NOW! [06] PATIENT EMPOWERMENT PWAs have tossed out the old model of doing whatever your doctor says. [08] TRANSMISSION OF HIV Understanding how viral load affects your infectivity during sex. [12] PRISON ADVOCACY How to ensure you don’t get another life sentence when you get a tattoo in prison. [14] EPIDEMIOLOGY It took more than a virus to create a worldwide epidemic from an isolated village. [40] LAST BLAST Liver disease gives Glen Hillson insight into the ordeals of pregnancy. [09] AIDS AND ENDEMIC POPULATIONS HIV/AIDS has hit some parts of the world particularly hard.And it will take a concerted features international effort to address this epidemic of global proportions. [20] STREET DRUGS AND HIV MEDS INTERACTIONS Recreational drugs can wreak havoc on the way your HIV drugs metabolize, not only reducing their effectiveness but also causing such side effects as seizures. [23] THE HEALTH RISKS OF STREET DRUGS There’s a further down side to those party drugs: they can depress your immune system. [15] HARM REDUCTION prevention Harm reduction principles are now being applied to recreational drug use. [17] BARCELONA REPORTS There continues to be a dearth of research on complementary therapies. [19] ANTIRETROVIRALS Tenofovir and atazanavir are still waiting for approval in Canada. [25] DECIPHERING YOUR DIAGNOSTICS treatment Part 3 in a series: interpreting T-cell lab results. [26] COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES information Exploring the principles and benefits of ancient healing systems from Asia:Ayurveda and Siddha, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. [29] NUTRITION > BIA tests are up and running again at the BCPWA Society. > Add fibre to your diet for stellar stools. [32] HEPATITIS C More drug options for people who can’t tolerate Rebetron: Pegelated interferon is finally in the Canadian marketplace, and novel HCV drugs in the pipeline. [34] STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE The relationship between viral load and CD4 count is not always predictable. [35] LET’S GET CLINICAL Updates from the Canadian HIV Trials Network. [36] INFORMACION EN ESPAÑOL México corta el acceso a las medecinas contra el VIH. JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2003 LIVING + 1 think+ BRITISH COLUMBIA opinion and editorial PERSONS WITH AIDS SOCIETY Can we talk? The British Columbia Persons With AIDS Society seeks to empower persons living by Carl Bognar with HIV disease and AIDS through mutual support and collective action.The Society has over 3,500 HIV+ members. early 200 HIV-positive people 750 cases a year between 1990 and attended the BCPWA Society’s 1996. It is difficult to know whether the NPositive Gathering in October increase to 440 cases in 2001 from 427 in Living + editorial board to participate in sessions on antiretrovi- 1999 and 413 in 2000 is significant. Wayne Campbell, Glen Hillson, rals, complementary medicines, co- Epidemiologists fear that the increase in Joel NC Leung infection, and methadone, among others. 2001 may point to a resurgence in the Managing editor Jeff Rotin One of the surprises of the Gathering was epidemic. In any event, 440 cases a year Design / production Britt Permien that the most popular sessions dealt with is far too many. Each new infection will depression and relationships, which pro- cost the BC healthcare system over Copyediting Darren Furey vides a clue, I think, to the deepest con- $200,000. That’s nearly $100 million for Contributing writers cerns of PWAs. the new cases diagnosed last year alone. Maggie Atkinson, Reeta Bhatia, Jim Boothroyd, David Coop, At a workshop on prevention, people Yet it’s still difficult to secure funding for Jennifer Genge, Diana Johansen, discussed the difficulties of maintain- prevention campaigns. R.Paul Kerston, Sunny Lee, ing safer behaviours to prevent HIV People with HIV/AIDS are living Glenda Meneilly, Devan Nambiar, transmission. The discussion was lively longer and healthier lives than ever, so Sergio Plata, Ron Rosenes, Evan Wood and compelling, and people shared there are more opportunities for HIV Photography John Kozachenko, their experiences with remarkable transmission. Despite the huge increase Britt Permien openness. They spoke of love, rejection, in the overall number of positive people, Senior policy advisor on trust, depression, desire, discrimina- 300 fewer new cases of HIV are health promotion tion, passion, death, disclosure, loss, reported each year than were reported Paula Braitstein stigma, and the way these issues affect six years ago. One possible explanation Director of communications and safer behaviours. for the reduction in new cases is that education Naomi Brunemeyer Just as compelling was the relief and HIV-positive people are already dealing gratitude that HIV-positive people expressed with many of the situations where HIV Director of treatment information and advocacy at having a safe venue in which to talk. transmission can be avoided. Most Tarel Quandt PWAs have few opportunities to express likely, HIV transmission results from a Coordinator of treatment information their deepest concerns and the complex mixed bag of complex situations that Zoran Stjepanouic situations they must deal with. One focus PWAs encounter. Prevention coordinator of prevention strategies is to ensure After someone is diagnosed with HIV, Carl Bognar PWAs keep talking, both among our- a lot of time, effort, caring, and commu- selves and with HIV-negative people. In nication are needed to rebuild a healthy this spirit, the tagline for the BCPWA life. Effective prevention can only be built Funding for Living + is provided by the British Columbia Ministry of Health and Society’s new prevention campaign is on the healthy sexuality and good mental by subscription and donations “We need to talk about it.” health of HIV-positive people. This may Living+ Magazine Despite the alarming numbers of new be the biggest challenge for HIV preven- 1107 Seymour St. infections in British Columbia (440 in tion, but it just might be the key to slowing Vancouver BC 2001 alone), the numbers show that the spread of the virus. V6B 5S8 things have already changed for the bet- Carl Bognar is the prevention coordinator for the TEL 604.893.2206 ter. New HIV infections peaked at about BCPWA Society. FAX 604.893.2251 EMAIL [email protected] BCPWA ONLINE www.bcpwa.org Living+ is published by the British Columbia Persons With AIDS Society.This publication may report on experimental and alternative therapies, but the Society does not recommend any particular therapy. Opinions © 2003 Living+ expressed are those of the individual authors and not necessarily those of the Society. 2 LIVING + JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2003 Reality bites New city council in four years. Prisoners are six to 70 prevention, treatment, care and sup- fast tracking SIFs times more likely to be living with HIV port.” It says: access to HIV/AIDS- Larry Campbell, a former coroner and than the average Canadian.” Hepatitis C related treatment is fundamental to the strong advocate for harm reduction serv- prevalence rates are even higher. realization of the right to health; pre- ices, was elected as the new mayor of Van- The report shows that there is also a vention, treatment, care and support are couver in the November 16 municipal lack of coordination and harmonization a continuum; access to medication is election. He led his party, the Coalition of of HIV/AIDS prison programs and serv- one element of comprehensive treat- Progressive Electors campaign, to a land- ices across the country. ment, care and support; and interna- slide victory. All eight of the COPE can- tional cooperation is vital in realizing didates won seats on city council. Vatican stills says no equitable access to care, treatment and The campaign was dominated by to condoms support to all in need. Downtown Eastside issues. The new city The Vatican repeated its opposition to con- “The new guideline will help govern- council has promised to implement the dom use to fight AIDS, saying chastity was ments and civil society focus on the need Four Pillar Approach to drug use, includ- the best way to prevent the spread of HIV. to scale up access to prevention and treat- ing the controversial realization of safe The Vatican has been criticized for its ment,” said UNAIDS Executive Director injection facilities in the new year. steadfast opposition to condom use, espe- Dr. Peter Piot. “Today’s unequal and lim- In related news, former mayor Philip cially in poor regions like Africa that have ited access to treatment is unacceptable, Owen has been appointed as co-chair of been devastated by the epidemic. The with less than 5 percent of people in the the Task Force on the Implementation of Church has argued that condoms do not developing world who need HIV medi- the Four Pillar Approach. offer 100 percent protection and only con- cines having access to them.” tribute to what Monsignor Javier Lozano The revised guideline breaks new Canada not tackling AIDS Barragan, president of the Pontifical Coun- ground by calling for specific actions on in prison cil for Health Workers, called a “pan-sexual” the part of governments. A recent report argues that HIV/AIDS society in which sex has been separated and hepatitis C in federal and provincial into an act of pleasure or procreation. Company backs out of prisons continue to increase and Cana- Barragan’s comments came ahead of a drug study dian governments are failing to provide three-day Vatican symposium on health The Chiron Corporation, manufacturer of the resources and leadership necessary care in the world’s Catholic hospitals the drug interleukin-2 (commonly called to prevent the spread of infectious dis- and clinics.

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