HIV drugs extending lives by 24 years - but ya got $600K?

[justjoshoh]

Are you suggesting that we ignore the issue that we have on hand, and instead focus all of our attention on condom distribution? Ignoring HIV won't make it go away, finding a way to prevent it will though.

I'll have to try to find the source, but I believe a NIH study suggests that condom usage only increased 30% when distributed. That isn't going to stop the spread of HIV.

 

[rotary]

"About 40,000 people are infected with HIV every year in the United States."

That is a scary statistic.

As far as Canadian stats go, 62% of all new infections are due to gay sexual activity.

I fail to see how subsidizing condoms instead of treating the sick will improve the situation. Condoms are not expensive. People choose not to wear them, and I very much doubt cost is a factor.

 

[HartfordGuy]

24 years is certainly a big improvement as the article says.

But it is still a fatal disease. People shouldn't forget that.

We've all heard the same question in the past. Would you like to know when you are going to die, or would you prefer it be a surprize?

Well, when you are first diagnosed with HIV you now know you have about 24 years left. So if you are 40 years old, you'll be dead at 64 most likely. (So much for collecting Social Security payments!)

and if you are 30 now.... or 20 even...do the math.

Now THAT is frightening. Don't take chances boys. Barebacking and swallowing is like playing Russian Roulette.

 

[treanir]

Barebacking and swallowing is like playing Russian Roulette.

The slow and painful kind... The kind which, when you lose, leaves you with 20+ years of rapidly declining health, stigma and other nasty things.

 

[looseliam]

There's more money in treating the infection than there is in a cure.

Until that changes, we'll continue to see great new cocktails to extend the life.

I can't wait to see the insurance companies weasel out of this one!

 

[treanir]

This might be the time to take out the popcorn and watch as the drama unfolds...


Don't know enough about the meds to make any kind of useful comment on that, but...

Condoms are dangerous, really? Says who, a 'news' site with such headlines as 'Ten Commandments stunner:
Feds lying at Supreme Court', 'Thou shalt not bear false witness' and 'Widows sue over Wicca symbol, headstones'. Sounds like they too have an ulterior motive: the church needs to be filled.
What's the alternative? Barebacking? Then you'd have to make a case against all STDs.

 

[runner]

"About 40,000 people are infected with HIV every year in the United States."
This is so depressing. And just when I have discovered the joy of......