Associated Press - Sunday, October 8, 2000
Kate Roberts, Associated Press Writer

Ohio State University professor Michael Podell received a $355,000 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, for the first year of what he expects to be a five-year study costing $1.68 million.

"We want to understand more about HIV and drug abuse in people," said Podell, associate professor of veterinary clinical sciences. "One of the ways to do that is to develop an animal model that has similar characteristics."

Podell also is interested in the drug's effect on the nervous system. Methamphetamine speeds up neurological degeneration - something Podell says is becoming more of a problem as people with AIDS are living longer because of improved drug treatments.

Feline immunodeficiency virus and human immunodeficiency virus have similar effects on the immune and neurological systems of their respective hosts, he said. Cats also respond to methamphetamine similar to the way people do. When injected, methamphetamine is a stimulant that can cause a feeling of euphoria and hyperactivity. It's also known to cause such long-term effects as paranoia, hallucinations and strokes.

Peter Wood, a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, attacked the study as "cruel, wasteful and bizarre." He argued that HIV and FIV aren't similar enough for the research to transfer to humans and that the social pressures that would lead a person to take methamphetamine can't be replicated with cats.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know meth use will have an adverse effect on your body so the disease will be promoted more vigorously," Wood said. "Our limited resources would be better spent on teaching people how to avoid contracting HIV or on drug prevention."

Julio Abreu, spokesman for AIDS Action, a Washington-based AIDS activist organization, said his group supports studies that aim to find a cure or vaccine, but to simply establish a control study in which the results are already known, whether it involves animals or humans, is a poor use of resources.

"In an era where there's still no cure and no vaccine, I'd hate for any precious resources to be misguided," Abreu said.

Podell defended the study and said the National Institutes of Health has a set amount of money earmarked for AIDS research.

"The NIH has predetermined how to proportion their funds into basic science, clinical science and prevention programs," he said. "The NIH has a very large budget for drug abuse prevention. There's already a tremendous amount of funding for that and it's not a situation where they'd take these funds and use them for a prevention program."

001008
AP001003

Copyright © 2000 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation, and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2000. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .