Being Alive launches crystal meth project

Being Alive, a Los Angeles-based AIDS advocacy and service organization, is in the process of crafting a social marketing and education project that will begin later this year to address the links between crystal meth use and HIV infections. The project's initial goals are to develop and deliver key messages and images that will inspire action and entry into education and treatment services, through posters, palm cards, and advertisements in local publications and on sex-themed Web sites; and to provide harm-reduction strategies through "Sex and Partying" workshops for HIV-positive gay and bisexual crystal users, in order to encourage them to not expose others to the virus through unprotected sex, which studies show is commonplace among crystal users. "The incredible increase of crystal meth use in the gay male community is fueling the spread of HIV disease," says Being Alive board president Howard Jacobs. "Our expanded HIV prevention efforts for people living with HIV seek to weaken this clear link between crystal meth and HIV infection. We are focusing on a social marketing campaign that brings people to educational workshops. We hope people will utilize practical skills and help empower themselves to reduce the numbers of new infections." Being Alive plans to develop both components of the campaign throughout early 2005 and officially begin the advertising campaign and harm-reduction workshops in April. For more information about the project or to get involved, contact Being Alive executive director Demetri Moshoyannis at (310) 289-2551, ext. 14, or send e-mail to info@beingalivela.org.