HIV prevention, it's 'Tru'

Everybody knows about the numerous antiviral medications on the market to treat HIV that allow those diagnosed with the virus to live fairly normal lives. But what about a medication that can actually prevent HIV? Enter Truvada.

The FDA approved Truvada in July 2012 to treat already-diagnosed cases of HIV. Soon after, thanks to trials by Dr. Robert Grant of San Francisco, it was discovered
that it could actually prevent the disease.

But this has the gay community divided. Many argue that taking Truvada for prevention will cause gay men to go out and have unprotected sex, since the risk of contracting HIV is ostensibly not present.

Of course, no medicine is 100-percent effective. Initial trials of Truvada indicated only a 42-percent success rate. And effective prevention requires taking the drug daily, so opponents posit it’s easy to forget to do this.

However, it’s unfair to dismiss Truvada so quickly.

Later tests have shown that Truvada actually has a 99-percent success rate if taken as directed.

But, since 2013, only 1,400 people have started taking Truvada as a preventative measure. That then leads to questions such as why this number is so low ifthe drug is 99-percent effective.

One person to thank for this is, ironically, AIDS Healthcare Foundation president Michael Weinstein. He called Truvada a “party drug” that will just give men an excuse to “not use condoms.”

Well, Mr. Weinstein, I’m sorry to say this, but men already aren’t using
condoms.

The CDC has reported that unprotected anal sex between men has jumped almost 20 percent between 2005 and 2011. And I don’t doubt this number will continue to climb.

One can’t help but see the parallel between birth control pills and Truvada.
Birth control pills were invented in 1959 but didn’t see widespread use until the ’70s because of cultural stigma against sex before marriage. It takes society some time to adapt to these types of things.

Today, millions of women take birth control pills, and they have every right to do so.

It’s easy to forget taking those every day, too, yet we don’t see opposition to them unless you count the far-right religious kooks and Hobby Lobby.
And many women take birth control in addition to other contraception, such as condoms, as an extra
precaution.

So men that take Truvada to prevent HIV could use condoms as well, to be extra safe.

How could people be opposed to extra protection? We should welcome this with open arms. We should be passing Truvada out for free in front of gay bars!
Well, maybe not that. It’s still pretty expensive. But anyway, you get the idea.

Hopefully, in the future Truvada and drugs like it will be as common as birth control pills, readily available in generic form and covered by insurance.
And, who knows, maybe one day HIV/AIDS will be a disease that exists only in books and movies as a bittersweet reminder of how good we really have it.

­zipperr@indiana.edu

So men that take Truvada to prevent HIV could use condoms as well, to be extra safe.

How could people be opposed to extra protection? We should welcome this with open arms. We should be passing Truvada out for free in front of gay bars!

Well, maybe not that. It’s still pretty expensive. But anyway, you get the idea.

Hopefully, in the future Truvada and drugs like it will be as common as birth control pills, readily available in generic form and covered by insurance.

And, who knows, maybe one day HIV/AIDS will be a disease that exists only in books and movies as a bittersweet reminder of how good we really have it.

­zipperr@indiana.edu