The spread of HIV in the U.S. is partially fueled by the nation's opioid epidemic, according to a WVU researcher.
The spread of HIV in the U.S. is partially fueled by the nation's opioid epidemic, according to a WVU researcher.

WVU researcher: HIV epidemic partially fueled by national opioid crisis

Infectious diseases expert Sally Hodder, director of the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute and associate vice president for clinical and translational science at West Virginia University, was part of a national team that published “AIDS in America – Back in the Headlines at Long Last,” a perspective that provides detailed information about the ongoing HIV epidemic.

The 2019 State of the Union address recently issued a national call to end the HIV epidemic in the United States leaving many listeners surprised. Most believe that HIV is a problem of the past.

Hodder states that current estimates place 1.1 million Americans living with HIV, and that more than 15,800 people with diagnosed HIV died in 2017.

“I began my career in 1980 as an intern in San Francisco at the dawn of the AIDS epidemic,” Hodder said. “Through development of well-tolerated and highly effective antiretroviral therapy, HIV in America was transformed from a death sentence to a treatable chronic disease. But HIV never went away, with nearly 40,000 new cases occurring each year for the past decade in the U.S.”

This epidemic is partially fueled by the nation’s current opioid epidemic, according to Hodder, and no state is more familiar with this problem than West Virginia, which has the highest opioid overdose death rate in the nation and its first HIV cluster where intravenous drug use is the main risk factor.

The possibility of HIV and other infectious diseases spreading through injection drug use has been a constant concern among public health officials,” Hodder said. “We understand how to prevent hepatitis B, C and HIV, yet we continue to see new cases.”

The perspective, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, attributes a variety of social, economic and cultural barriers as factors that need to be addressed in order to combat the ongoing public health crisis. While Hodder admits this remains a serious concern for West Virginia and the nation, she believes ending HIV as a public health threat in the U.S. is achievable.

“There are proven strategies that we can use to help fight this epidemic,” Hodder said. “Critically important is addressing the various barriers that are preventing individuals with HIV from getting the help they need. We have the science to end HIV in the U.S., but do we have the will to do so?”

WVCTSI Background

WVCTSI is funded by an IDeA Clinical and Translational grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U54GM104942) to support the mission of building clinical and translational research infrastructure and capacity to impact health disparities in West Virginia.

Featured

SHOPS & SERVICES

Buckhannon City Council approves $6.5 million-dollar budget prioritizing public safety, infrastructure

BUCKHANNON – City council passed the largest budget in Buckhannon’s history Tuesday, with the two largest allocations once again earmarked for public safety operations and infrastructure maintenance, respectively. At its March 14 meeting – rescheduled from March 16 due to […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Police arrest man they say was the driver in 2022 pursuit that ended in a wreck with two people ejected

BUCKHANNON – A Rock Cave man was arrested for allegedly fleeing from police officers in a vehicle, injuring himself and a passenger. Elijah Carpenter, 27, of Rock Cave was arrested Thursday for fleeing from an officer and fleeing or attempting […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

Upshur County Sports Calendar

MONDAY (March 20) Baseball Softball Tennis TUESDAY (March 21) Baseball Softball Tennis WEDNESDAY (March 22) Lacrosse Tennis THURSDAY (March 23) Baseball Lacrosse Softball Tennis FRIDAY (March 24) Baseball Lacrosse Tennis Track and Field SATURDAY (March

WVWC Track - Wesleyan Sports

Wesleyan track and field teams find success at WVU meet

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan men’s and women’s track & field teams competed at West Virginia University this weekend at the Stan Romanoski Open. The Bobcats had five individual event winners and one

Three Lady Bucs earn Big 10 All-Conference basketball honors

TENNERTON – The Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Bucs landed three players on the 2022-23 Big 10 All-Conference basketball team that was selected by the conference’s coaches. Senior forward/center Kendall Currence and junior guard Kenna Maxwell were named

Lacrosse Bucs fall in debut to Morgantown, 14-2

TENNERTON – The Buckhannon-Upshur boy’s lacrosse team opened their 2023 campaign at home Wednesday with the Morgantown Mohigans at Freal “Red” Crites Memorial Stadium. The Bucs dropped a 14-2 decision as the Mohigans stymied the B-U offense most of the […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES