| Abstrakt: |
Following a 2003 community forum on unsafe sexual practices among gay men, a follow up community forum was held on February 8, 2004 to address the insufficiently studied linkage between unsafe sexual practices, HIV transmission and crystal methamphetamine abuse. The forum was moderated by award-winning playwright and actor, Harvey Fierstein. The forum begins with an introduction by one of the organizers, Dan Carlson, who describes the forum as designed for private citizens to come together, identify with each other and talk about their experiences with crystal methamphetamine and to begin the process of formulating solutions to its widespread abuse. The other conference organizer, Bruce Kellerhouse, PhD, addressed the issue of inadequate public health messages to fight the increased use of crystal meth and an associated rise in HIV infections. He is followed by Peter Staley, an AIDS activist who used his own funds to finance a highly-visible advertising campaign warning of the linkage between crystal meth and HIV. "Trevor P." then recounts his personal experience as a gay man who HIV seroconverted while using crystal meth and who is now in recovery. Steven Tierney, EdD, next discusses obstacles in public health efforts to curb the spread of substance abuse and HIV infection. He also describes public health campaigns used in San Francisco. Steven Lee, MD, discusses psychiatric, psychological and pharmacological issues related to crystal methamphetamine addiction and HIV. The forum then is opened up to the general community, prompting a range of responses from mental health workers, public health workers, government officials, recovering addicts, and concerned citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
