Be careful if you're cruising. Rates of HIV infection are up right across the USA, and spiking rates of syphilis indicate that this might soon become a new outbreak.
Crystal Methamphetamine (P) is a huge problem. It makes people feel completely invulnerable, gives a huge surge of energy, and decreases mental capabilities. In Sydney as well as New York, P use is soaring, and it's leading to sexual marathons, without protection, of as many as 17 different partners in a night.
The new strain of HIV is still kicking around under the radar of most news organisations, but do remember that it's out there.
Dental dams for those of the female persuasion are available from d*vice.
I thought this was one of the more insightful comments I've read:
There is a growing sense that the traditional sloganeering about condoms and club drugs is about as effective as birth-control campaigns that rely on abstinence. The only hope for changing behavior, public health experts and psychologists say, is to recognize and address the underlying factors that propel men into risky situations. Loneliness, alienation and self-hatred, they say, are the real culprits that need to be addressed. - nytimes.com
AIDS is the reason I'm proud of my work. I'm currently working on a project that is building towards a chemical entity that traps the HIV virus. The end product is to be used as a vaginal cream/general HIV catching lubricant!
Of course the product is being funded by business entities, so even if it clears all the health and regulatory hurdles there will still be a cost associated with its use. But anything that empowers individuals with their own protection is a good start.
Posted by: chuck at April 4, 2005 03:43 PMGod, that'd be fantastic - being able to have a choice other than a raincoat!
Posted by: phreq at April 5, 2005 09:22 AM