This study by the CDC, just released, is pathetically behind the times. The data is from 2010. In medical terms, this is equivalent of using facts about dinosaurs’ diets to discuss the obesity epidemic in America.
Still it’s being quoted (and misquoted) as being the latest news about how young HIV positive gay black men are once again the victims of a racist, discriminatory, inaccessible medical and education system.
Although these black youth, aged 13-24, have a 71% “linkage to HIV medical care within 3 months after HIV diagnosis” and those, aged 25-34, have a 76% linkage to care, the stats for retention and prescription to care drop off, presumably after 3 months — the timeframe is not specified — and consequently this group has the lowest viral suppression rate of races studied.
I’ve read some comments about how, since this population doesn’t have medical insurance, it can’t get HIV meds. In 2010, that may be the case outside of metropolitan areas. In 2014, probably less so, but just because subsidized or free meds are available doesn’t mean that ig’nant youguns know that they are or how to get them — or that they are interested in taking them especially when they don’t get you high.
So does this big study tell us anything? Not much. But like most of these studies, it serves its purpose: keeping overly-educated researchers employed and attempting to convince the study-reading populous that the gub’ment wants to combat the problem.
There is no evidence, however, that the six study authors pondered or asked the question that would have provided the most illuminating data re this population:
If you could get all your HIV suppression medications free via a clinic that provided confidentiality and anonymity, would you take them as prescribed or would you take them when you remembered to do so or felt you needed them?
I predict that the majority would respond that they would either not go to the prescribing location to get their meds and/or would not take them as prescribed.
Why? Possible answers include ignorance, stupidity, poor self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, apathy, forgetfulness, irrational beliefs (“I can beat this thing”), blaming (“they’re never open when I can get there”), uncooperativeness (“they expect me not to drink?”), or other interests (“I sold them for real drugs” or “I want to go out with a bang!”), etc.
How does a medical or social service system combat a mindset that is bent on self-destruction? Are we prepared to send emissaries with anti-virals into life threatening locales to enforce the ingestion of medicines? Is such an action not the essence of nursemaiding? (How is this different from forcing undesirables to swallow lethal concoctions as part of a political agenda?) If this is what is required to keep this population alive, what quality of life awaits if it survives?
If persons that have contracted HIV — often through irresponsible choices — don’t care enough to fight a disease that, left untreated, will kill them, why is it the responsibility of society to save those who can help themselves, but have no interest in doing so?
It’s more than a medical and policy issue, it’s a moral one that, in a culture of cowards, no one has the courage to address.
compulsive truth 