Crystal clear
Your article ‘Sex and Drugs’ (PN129) is a timely reminder that
crystal meth remains a potential health catastrophe in waiting. This is particularly
true in London where frontline STI clinicians are finding meth is playing
an increasingly prominent role in HIV diagnoses in gay men as young as 18.
What your story doesn't mention is the debilitating effect crystal meth has
on the immune systems of people with HIV. Last year's Gay Men's Sex Survey
found greater use of meth among HIV positive gay men than HIV negative men,
and this was highest among HIV positive men with multiple partners.
Most meth users are unaware it interferes with the efficacy of antiretrovirals,
exacerbates HIV-related damage to brain cells leading to cognitive impairment,
increases production of a "docking protein" that promotes the spread
of the HIV-1 virus in infected users, boosts viral loads and depletes T-cells,
hastening progression to full-blown Aids and death.
Our community's silence about the true health risks associated with crystal
meth has led to many unwitting British gay men being introduced to the drug
and sero-converting in ignorance. Shouldn't magazines such as the otherwise
exemplary Positive Nation raise the alarm about the devastating effects meth
wreaks on habitual HIV positive users?
Gary Leigh, www.lifeormeth.com
Over-blown claims
I am writing with reference to your news story on prosecutions for transmitting
HIV (PN130). It is my understanding from available research that HIV produces,
on average, 39 mutations a day per person while in the human body. So quite
how the prosecution can justify using phylogenetic evidence to support their
prosecution is beyond me.
Lisa Power's point, about people becoming increasingly concerned that what
they say confidence to their doctor could later be used against them in court,
is well made. This is one reason why there was so much concern about the NHS
database. I know some agencies anonymise their hard copy of client case files
in case they are seized by the authorities. Without the missing 'key' to identify
clients there would be no way of knowing who the files refer to.
Quite how legal this is I don't know but in the absence of trusted legislation
and/or policy protection for personal medical information, any mechanism is
better than none. Undercover seizure can happen too. I worked at the Canon
Collins Trust for Southern Africa where Ethel De Keyser, the director (now
sadly deceased), and other long term staff could pinpoint dates during the
anti-apartheid years and, had they been asked, identify people involved, when
a member of the intelligence service was unknowingly recruited to the staff
and subsequently disappeared overnight with a number of filing cabinet's worth
of files.
Trevor Skingle, London
Telling tales
The feature on disclosure in your last issue really rang true. Telling people
you have HIV is a pain but I learnt to my cost that it’s the best thing
to do.
I live in Manchester and though people might think the scene there is really
big here it actually lives up to its name - the gay village.
I met this guy I really liked, so much I was too scared to tell him I was
positive. After about a month of seeing each other we met one night and I
could tell something was up. Then he asks me if there’s something I
want to tell him. My heart sank. Some nasty queen had got around to telling
him before I did.
Even though we’d been completely safe he couldn’t believe I hadn’t
told him and said he didn’t want to see me any more. I was gutted but
couldn’t really blame him.
Now I always tell partners up front - normally after the first snog. Some
run a mile, but trust me, it’s better than getting your feeling dashed
further down the line. And it’s surprising how many people say “So
am I”.
michael, manchester
Opt out is possible
I found your article of confidentiality interesting (PN130). It is possible
to opt out of having your GP records uploaded to the National Spine. Information
on doing this is available at http://www.nhsconfidentiality.org/?page_id=9
which also has a link to a standard letter to be sent to your GP. I have already
done this and received a letter in reply from my GP assuring me that my records
will not be uploaded.
M Hill
Cool and on the spot
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the interview with Maxi Jazz (PN130).
I have always been a fan of Faithless. His comments were so cool and on the
spot.
Tony Tansley, Deptford, London`
Relevant
The last issue of Positive Nation (PN130) was the best in a long time. Most
of the articles were relevant and interesting and not overly targeted at any
particularly group affected by HIV. At the same time it was neither bland
nor wishy-washy.
philip, london
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