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While the HIV epidemic appeared to be out of control in the United States in the early 1990s, Dr. Robert Redfield led the army's efforts to prevent further infections [19659002]. A virologist by appointing him Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Redfield, 67, took office in March after being criticized for his past support for mandatory HIV testing for military recruits and medical professionals. the health. An email was sent with a link to confirm the listing.
As Redfield spoke at the annual conference of the National Association of County and New Brunswick Health Officials in New Orleans this week, a new epidemic of opioid-related deaths occupies an important place . time, "said Redfield in an interview Thursday." It's a serious crisis that will obviously take a lot of innovation and effort to kneel. "
Redfield said that 39, he spent much of his time in Louisiana meeting with local and national health authorities to discuss the opioid crisis.HIV / AIDS.He also visited the CrescentCare Health Clinic to learn more about his success in reach new patients with pre-HIV prophylaxis
Opioids have been making more and more casualties in New Orleans and Baton Rouge over the last few years, and last year the majority of 111 overdose deaths in parish of East Baton Rouge were opioid-related and 76% of the 219 accidental drug-related deaths in New Orleans involved opioids.
And while the HIV / AIDS crisis has largely gone headline, Louisiana still maintains the country's second highest rate of new HIV infections.
Redfield said that one of the similarities that he sees between the two outbreaks is that in the early days of HIV / AIDS treatment, few cities have had a full suite of services – not just treatments but also social support services.
"We do not have the tools we need right now. It was not just the treatments we did not have when the AIDS epidemic began. Initially, we did not have the systems of care to provide them, "he says.
Redfield is convinced that in the long run, science will bring answers to the opioid crisis in the form of new treatments, which he hopes he is also showing useful in the fight against drugs. other addictions such as gambling.
In the short term, he supports medicated treatments such as methadone and buprenorphine. Studies have shown that they are effective in reducing opioid abuse, but they remain controversial in some circles as they also contain narcotics.
Overdose deaths in the East Baton Rouge Parish increased by 25% in 2017 compared to the previous year. "Obviously, whether it's methadone or buprenorphine, it's clear that these products have an impact on the illicit use of opiates," he said. "This is a medical condition," Redfield said, fearing that the increasing number of opioid-related deaths would threaten the progress of his work to reduce the incidence of HIV / AIDS.
in addition, states are adopting a "zero" – eliminate all new HIV infections – by ensuring that everyone with the disease reduces their viral load through treatment, and by having PrEP done to anyone at risk of infection
"Of course, the epidemic of opioids" However, a state like New Hampshire has managed to bring down its number of new HIV infections under 30 years old by a year while fighting opioid deaths.
"That tells you that they had an opioid epidemic there, but they treated people with HIV, and they have people at risk for HIV – mostly men homobaduals and relatively well educated – they are in PREP. "
The Southern states are still slow to adopt PrEP, as are African-Americans who are in danger.But Redfield said he was impressed CrescentCare's success in recruiting new patients for prophylaxis, which reduces the risk of contracting HIV by more than 90 percent when it is taken every day
.It is in fact a major achievement, "he said. "The more we accelerate this, the sooner this epidemic gets closer to zero, but I have no doubt that New Orleans can do it."
John Hunter found Jesus on the side of the "I". US 190, just east of Lacombe.
Follow Matt Sledge on Twitter, @mgsledge.
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