Pubdate: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: Airika Owen, Contributing writer REPORT NOTES DROP IN HIV TRANSMISSION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA Drug Cocktail Slows Reproduction of Virus Harm reduction strategies, support programs and better medications are contributing to the continuing decrease in HIV transmission among B.C.'s intravenous drug users, according to a report recently released by the Ministry of Health. The report cited the Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy (HAART) as one likely contributor to the lower transmission rates. HAART is a drug cocktail which slows the reproduction of the virus in patients and lowering their viral load to "undetectable" levels. Someone with an undetectable viral load is significantly less likely to transmit the virus to another person through body fluids. The report says that early diagnosis of HIV and quick uptake of HAART in intravenous drug users is helping to reduce the spread of the virus among users. The report also lists harm reduction programs such as clean needle exchanges and Vancouver's supervised injection facilities at Insite and The Dr. Peter Aids Foundation as a reason for the slower spread of HIV among drug users. "There is a high correlation between individuals using the injection service and those people getting daily help with their medication," said Maxine Davis, executive director of the Dr. Peter Aids Foundation. The facility offers supervised injection to its registered patients on top of other health care services such as nutritious meals, art and music therapy, showers, laundry services and nursing care. The combination of supervised injection and other services creates that success, Davis said. People who use injections facilities are more likely to receive ongoing help with their HIV medications--a necessity for good health, she said. Davis agreed HAART is playing a significant role in reducing the spread of HIV. She said transmission in B.C. is down almost 60 per cent since the 1996 advent of new HIV treatment. "We're way ahead of any other province," Davis said. However the report notes changes in drug use trends may also be contributing to the lower rate of HIV infection. According to the report, crack cocaine smoking in the Downtown Eastside is on the rise, lowering drugs used by injection and consequently reducing the spread of HIV among drug users. But despite the changes in drug habits, provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall called harm reduction services a success. "The recent decline in new HIV cases is encouraging, especially since a significant decrease has been seen amongst vulnerable populations like those who use injectable drugs," he said in a release. "This decrease is more proof that Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy and other harm reduction services are working and should be expanded." The report concluded with recommendations to continue lowering transmission among injection drug users. "B.C. is a world leader in the development of evidence based, effective interventions to prevent HIV among injection and non-injection drug users; this evidence base needs to be expanded and effective interventions need to be scaled up provincially," said the report. It recommends expanded access to HAART and harm reduction programs. It also calls for the continuation of needle exchange programs where dirty needles don't have to be handed over to receive clean ones. Davis said transmission rates in countries in Asia and Eastern Europe still soar due to injection drug use. She called for more support of harm-reduction strategies, which require an acceptance of risky behaviour. "Until countries, including our own, have the courage to implement services that are scientifically upheld, the epidemic will continue to be out of control unnecessarily," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.