Information Sheet

This information sheet discusses the necessity for injecting drug users (IDUs), who cannot or will not stop injecting drugs, to have access to sterile syringes in order to prevent the spread of HIV. The sheet explains that (1) the method used to prepare and inject drugs offers many opportunities for the spread of HIV and hepatitis viruses, (2) IDUs do not generally have access to sterile syrnges because most states have laws that restrict the sale and distribution of sterile syringes, and (3) safe disposal of used syringes is also a concern.

This information sheet explains that in order to reduce the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections, injecting drug users (IDUs), who cannot or will not stop injecting drugs, must have access to sterile syringes and injection equipment. However, many laws and regulations prohibit IDUs from purchasing these items. Some states have changed these laws and regulations and have seen positive results.

This information sheet discusses the role of pharmacies in efforts to help injecting drug users (IDUs) gain access to sterile syringes and equipment in order to reduce their risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV and other blood-borne diseases.The information sheet lists advantages of pharmacy sales, the barriers to pharmacy sales, the changes that some states have made to legalize pharmacy sales, and suggestions for encouraging more pharmacy sales of syringes to IDUs who will not or cannot stop injecting drugs.

This information sheet supports the use of syringe exchange programs (SEPs) for injecting drug users, who will not or cannot stop injecting drugs, as one method of lowering the risk of IDUs acquiring or transmitting HIV. SEPs allow IDUs to safely dispose of used syringes and obtain sterile ones at no cost and offer prevention and health care education and services. The information sheet discusses the public health impact of SEPs and considers the challenges for SEPs and ways of supporting access to sterile syringes through SEPs.

This information sheet discusses the problem of safe disposal of used syringes by diabetics as well as injecting drug users (IDUs) to prevent needlestick injuries and transmission of blood-borne diseases like HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis. The information sheet explains the public concern with syringe disposal, presents safe disposal methods that have been used in some communities, and notes that barriers to syringe disposal programs include laws that establish criminal penalties for distribution and possession of drug paraphernalia.

This information sheet contends that new rapid diagnostic laboratory techniques appear to have increased the possiblity of laboratory cross contamination and explains how to avoid diagnostic errors based on false-positive cultures.

This information sheet is the fourth in a series of sheets on complementary/alternative (CAM) health care and HIV/AIDS. It considers different types of regulation: licensure, certification, and registration; the type of regulation used with conventional practitioners; and the fact that some conventional practitioners incorporate CAM therapies into their practice. The information sheet suggests some sort of professional code as a beginning for CAM practitioners who are not yet regulated.

This fact sheet provides organizations, government agencies, and educators with information about abstinence education and HIV/AIDS. The fact sheet reviews the content of abstinence-only sex education programs as well as the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS among adolescents in the United States. It compares abstinence-only educational programs to comprehensive sexuality/abstinence-plus sex education. It examines the concerns held by some parents and educators about comprehensive sex education and cites studies showing that most parents favor abstinence-plus education.

This information sheet discusses the STD, gonorrhea. It lists the symptoms for men and women; transmission methods (e.g., perinatal transmission); the long-term consequences of untreated gonorrhea; its effect on pregnant women and their infants; prevention measures, including consistent and correct use of a latex condom during sex; and treatment. Contact information is provided for state and national STD services.

This information sheet discusses the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among women. The sheet presents statistics on the number of women living with HIV/AIDS and notes that the majority of new AIDS cases are African American women and Latinas. Reasons for the higher proportion of women contracting HIV are discussed including the lack of an effective female-controlled method of HIV prevention, women are at-risk because they may not be aware of the high-risk behavior of their partners, and HIV is transmitted eight times more efficiently from men to women.