Health News
2005-08-23
Conference
explores links between HIV and crystal meth use
More than 900
people attended the first National Conference on
Methamphetamine, HIV, and Hepatitis, held Friday and
More than 900
people attended the first National Conference on
Methamphetamine, HIV, and Hepatitis, held Friday and
Saturday in Salt Lake City, which examined the links
between crystal meth use and HIV and explored ways to
encourage drug users to practice safer sex, TheSalt Lake Tribune reports. The conference also
advocated a harm-reduction approach to meth use, which
angered some conservative lawmakers, including U.S.
representative Mark Souder of Indiana, who
protested sponsorship of the conference by the Department of
Health and Human Services because he says harm-reduction
messages undermine federal antidrug policies.
Conference
keynote speaker Patricia Case, a Harvard Medical School
professor, says the growing popularity of crystal meth
across the country is worrisome. “America has
always loved stimulants," Case said in her address.
"People take stimulants to accomplish things. It's chemical
software and plays perfectly to our shared American
qualities: the desire to be perfect, work harder, be
smarter, be thinner, and win at all costs.”
Crystal meth is
popular among gay men because of its libido-enhancing and
inhibition-lowering effects. But researchers say use of the
drug also frequently leads to unprotected sex, often
with multiple partners. A recent study by researchers
in San Francisco shows gay men who use crystal meth
are three times more likely to be HIV-positive than
nonusers. A survey of gay and bisexual men taking HIV
antibody tests in the city showed that about 6% of
those reporting meth use tested positive for HIV
infection; nonusers had a 2% infection rate.
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