AIDS 101 educates public on HIV risks, prevention

By: Kirk Cooper

Posted: 4/3/07

Men Against Violence and a local community organization joined forces Monday to inform students about how to prevent one of the world's leading causes of death.
AIDS Services of North Texas presented "AIDS 101," an educational presentation and panel discussion designed to address questions about how HIV is transmitted and what can be done to lessen a person's risk of contracting the disease.
"We're focused more on the sexual-related, drug-related modes of transmission," said Hannah MacIntyre, public relations officer for AIDS Services of North Texas. "We educate people on proper condom usage, dental dams, needle-bleaching techniques and specific drugs that increase the risk."
MacIntyre said that heroine is the drug most commonly associated with HIV infection, since it, along with infected bodily fluids, are injected directly into the bloodstream. However, two other drugs in particular - crystal meth, which is also injected, and crack cocaine, which is not - can increase HIV exposure risks by causing users to engage in reckless sexual behaviors.
"Crystal meth affects the part of the brain responsible for orgasms, as well as increasing the pain threshold," MacIntyre said. "It's a very bad combination."
Patrick Partida, Spring senior and member of Men Against Violence, said that although he personally considers himself "pretty well-informed" about HIV-related issues, he learned a few things himself at the session.
"There are ways that HIV-positive people can have sex with a negative partner," Partida said. "There are even ways that they can have children."
Partida said that one of the most overlooked ways to prevent AIDS is effective condom use.
"We talked about how to properly put on a condom," Partida said. "It's important to check the expiration date before you open the package."
MacIntyre said that misconceptions about AIDS cause many HIV-positive individuals to refuse testing. She said social stigma prevents many people from seeking help because they feel embarrassed or ashamed, or simply because they don't know enough about it.
"It's huge, absolutely huge, the misconceptions about HIV and who it affects," MacIntyre said. "It breaks down to people. You'd never be able to tell if someone was HIV-positive or not if you ran into them on the street. People need to open up to what the facts are, and not act on stereotypes."
MacIntyre said that AIDS Services of North Texas provides outpatient clinics, housing assistance, nutrition centers and counseling services for those affected by AIDS, both directly and indirectly. For more information, or to receive a free, confidential HIV test, MacIntyre said to contact the NT Student Health and Wellness Center or to visit the community organization's Web site at http://www.aidsntx.org.
Men Against Violence meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Wooten Hall Room. 115.