(ATN) New AIDS Treatment Article Series Available

(ATN) New AIDS Treatment Article Series Available

AIDS TREATMENT NEWS Issue #235, November 17, 1995
John S. James

"Reasons for Hope," a highly recommended series of monthly AIDS treatment articles, is now available from Search for a Cure, a nonprofit organization in Boston. These articles explain advanced practical treatment options to persons who are newly diagnosed, or otherwise do not have much background in AIDS treatment. The reading level is easier than AIDS TREATMENT NEWS and most other treatment newsletters; but the articles focus on treatment strategies like combination therapy, protease inhibitors, and reducing viral load. Future articles may look at immune-based therapies, nutrition, and alternative treatments. After about a year, the series may start over, updating each of the articles with the new information.

David Scondras, who served on the Boston City Council for 10 years and is part of the writing team, described this series as targeted for the large group of people who otherwise are only getting AIDS prevention information. "Too often their choice is to become a student of immunology, or keep reading about condoms," he commented. Scondras speaks at clinics and community meetings in the Boston area, and finds that many patients (and even some physicians) have never heard of viral load, and are only offered AZT if anything. When BAY WINDOWS, a gay newspaper in Boston, published the first article of the series ("AIDS in the 90's," by Peter Catalano and David Scondras), it received many requests for reprints.

The Reasons for Hope series goes through extensive peer review. The first draft is written by the AIDS Writers Group, which currently has eight members. The reviews include a panel of clinicians and researchers for medical accuracy, a team of HIV positives who are bright but not familiar with HIV treatment information to test for accessibility, and a professional writer for readability. This takes time, but since these articles focus on treatment strategy, not late- breaking news, the review time is not a problem.

The second article in this series is being published by BAY WINDOWS this week. Clinics in the Boston area are starting to give copies to patients, especially persons who are newly diagnosed.

How to Get Copies

To get a copy of the articles, call or write Search for a Cure, Boston Human Rights Institute, 58 Burbank St., Boston, MA 02115, phone 617/536-2474, fax 617/266-0051. There is no charge, but a donation is requested. (You might also ask for the guest editorial by David Scondras in the October 12 BAY WINDOWS. It is not part of the Reasons for Hope series, but is the best short article we have seen refuting statements by Dr. Peter Duesberg and others that HIV does not cause AIDS.)

Note: Search for a Cure will make Reasons for Hope available to gay newspapers and other interested publications. Editors should inquire at the phone or address above.

Note: This project was organized on a shoestring, and could move more quickly to distribute information in the Boston area and beyond if it had adequate support. Donations are tax deductible.

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