In 1981, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and subsequently Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), first appeared in the U. S., there were just 12 cases. By 1994, there were 400,000 cases and in 2014 there were approximately one million cases in the U. S. with almost 37 million cases world wide.1 Before 1981, HIV/AIDS was unheard of in the U. S. Attention was brought to this disease in the 80s when the CDC received increased requests for pentamide, a drug used to treat an unusual, fungus caused pnuemonia, Pneumocystis jurovecii, typically found in leukemia patients and those on immunosuppressive drugs.2 Within the next year, it was discovered that men who have sex with men (MSM) and racial/ethnic minorities are at the highest risk of contracting HIV.3, 4, 5 This caused stigmas to be associated with the disease, then called Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID).2
Negative connotations attached to homosexuality have deterred many afflicted with HIV/AIDS from seeking out help and treatment for years.5 These stigmas oftem leave victims of HIV/AIDS with little to no support from friends and families and the communities in which they live as the affected (MSM) were socially unacceptable until more recent years.6 Additionally, incidence of the disease and associated stigmas increase when injection of drugs is a factor.6 This disease, although most commonly transmitted via sexual contact and by sharing injection needles, was found to be transmitted via blood transfusions. At first, there was not enough data on the matter to justify excluding groups of individuals (gays and those that use injection drugs) from dontating blood, but with the recognition that HIV is transmitted through blood, it led to stricter protocol on blood screening to protect the blood supply.6
The severity of this disease and the impact it has had led to activism for AIDS treatment and the availability of treatment. Research has given the medical and scientific communities a greater understanding of the virus- it is now known that HIV is a reterovirus.7 By 1987, Azidothymidine (AZT) was used as the first antiretroviral drug.8 As new drugs were made and used to combat HIV/AIDS, AIDS treatment activism spread in the U. S. as afflicted individuals wanted their voices to be heard and for treatment to be more readily available to the masses.6 Eventually, a regimen of drugs, called the triple cocktail, was proven effective and became a beacon of hope to many HIV/AIDS victims in the U. S.6, 8
Today, there are treatment regimens and the tools and technology are there to rid the U. S. of HIV/AIDS, but the utilization of these means is not implemented.9 In 2012, for instance, the first home-testing kit for HIV was approved in the states and in 2015, Medicare was expanded to cover the costs of HIV test. However, despite availability of testing, roughly just half of all Americans have ever been tested for HIV.5 Lack of public transportation makes it hard for at risk and afflicted individuals to get to the doctor. Medications are costly- Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the country and as such, Texans without insurance may find it extremely difficult or even impossible to pay for treatment. On top of all of this most people don’t begin treatment within a month of diagnosis, not enough people are taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a precaution to prevent contracting HIV, and there are still stigmas attached to HIV/AIDS that hinder preventative measures and treatment.9
In 2015, the World Health Organization released guidelines for treatment that stated everyone living with HIV would receive antiretroviral treatment regardless of CD4 counts. As of 2017, many organizations endorsed the campaign “Undetectable = Untransmissible” (U = U), which promotes the proven fact that HIV infected individuals with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the disease.4 The aims of such campaigns is to discredit and dissociate stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS.
However, progress on prevention has stalled in regions where rates are rising and AIDS disproportionately afflicts African-Americans.9 In order to overcome the HIV epidemic in the US, the number of people getting tested needs to increase and those who test positive need to immediately start on antiretroviral therapy while those who are at risk, but tested negatively need to immediately be put on pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP.9 Lastly, HIV and sex-education vary widely through out the country- some schools teach abstinence only, some only barely cover abstinence, few discuss topics such as sexual orientation.5 In order to effectively overcome this epidemic, U. S. citizen need to be informed- not just those afflicted, not just the adults. The youth in this country need to be made aware that HIV/AIDS is a problem, that if they do not have safe practices, they very well could be at risk. They need to know what to do and who to go to in the event that they think they or someone they know are at risk. Political and religious views should not prevent anyone from opportunity to be informed on current and relevant issuses regardless of age. As rising generations are properly prepared to face this problem, our country will be better prepared and better equipped to deal with it and end it.