DRUG USE SPREADS INFECTION

WORCESTER-- A city managerial task force on AIDS and hepatitis C has made a
gloomy assessment -- the city's rate of HIV infection is alarmingly high.

The majority of people at risk for HIV are intravenous drug users and their
sexual partners, according to the task force report.

The task force believes a clean needle exchange program, something city
officials have been loath to adopt, would make a dent in the city's HIV and
hepatitis C rate.

"Education and prevention services should, ideally, be placed in
combination with an access to clean syringes program," the task force
report said. "The rate of transmission of infection among IDUs through
shared needle use could be reduced by clean needle exchange programs based
in pharmacies, doctors' offices, and/or community health settings. The rate
of transmission could also be reduced by changes in the law pertaining to
possession of needles and/or syringes."

Worcester has the second highest AIDS rate in Massachusetts, twice the
state average. Holyoke leads that category with an AIDS rate three times
the state average.

Among the other findings:

Minorities make up more than half of those infected with or at risk for HIV.

The rates and prevalence of hepatitis C are unknown and more testing and
education are necessary.

Most of the people in the city seeking substance abuse treatment are heroin
users, half of whom also are addicted to cocaine or crack cocaine. Arrests
for possession of syringes are up over the last five years.

The city provides adequate education about HIV and hepatitis C, but an
increase of outreach and collaboration are needed.

City schools, public and private, should adopt a more factual and detailed
education program regarding transmission and prevention of HIV, the virus
that causes AIDS, and hepatitis C.

Family-centered education programs are needed and could be accomplished
through home parties, communities of faith and teen groups. Education
programs should be community based.

Training should be available for all local health care providers to raise
awareness about the need for risk assessment of all patients for HIV and
hepatitis C.

The task force said the city could play a leading role in enacting these
reforms.

"We're hoping to have the City Council and Health Committee look at this,"
said Edla Bloom, executive director of AIDS Project Worcester and a member
of the task force. "Our committee wishes to continue its work. This is
really an interim report. It's not a final report.

"This was an extremely fascinating process," she said. "We interviewed
large numbers of people throughout the state, from those who are the
professionals working in the field to those who are the folks carrying the
disease. Our eyes were really opened.

"The level of interest on this committee was really high. We really want to
get back together again and make an impact," she said.

The HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis C Task Force is headed by Dr. John Sullivan, a
world-renowned AIDS researcher connected to the University of Massachusetts
Medical Center. Others on the task force include: Ms. Bloom; Dr. Arnold
Gurwitz, Worcester commissioner of public health; Christine Damiano, a
registered nurse in the city Health and Code Department; Michael Mazloff,
executive director of Health Awareness Services of Central Massachusetts;
Frances Anthes, CEO of Family Health Center; Carlo Genotossio, deputy chief
of the Worcester Police Department; Paul LaCava, assistant city manager;
Robert Pezzella, safety facilitator with the Worcester School Department;
Kathy Blumenthal, director of external programs with Great Brook Valley
Health Center; and Sandra Stern, a registered nurse who is director of
health services and health education at Anna Maria College.