AEGiS-BKREV: HIV/AIDS and the Drug Culture: Shattered Lives

(BKREV) HIV/AIDS and the Drug Culture: Shattered Lives

Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580. 219p., bibliog., index. (Haworth Psychosocial Issues of HIV/AIDS). ISBN 0-7890-0465-8, 0-7890-0554- 9pbk. $39.95, $19.95pbk.
Elizabeth Hagan, Joan Gormley. 1998.

Those who become immersed in the demands of addiction brought about by being part of the drug culture, find themselves isolated from family, friends, and anyone who can help. Their primary goal in life is to take care of their addiction. When these indi viduals become HIV positive, their lives are even more devastated. They are angry, lonely, and lost souls. They fade away into the dark as forgotten individuals with no one to speak for them. This book tries to speak for those individuals so that they can receive the complex care that they need. "The intention of this book is to provide information and guidance to clinicians and caregivers dealing directly with the challenge of the dually diagnosed HIV/AIDS and intravenous drug user, to assist in the development of comprehensive care and treatment plans, and to share what we have learned." It is hoped that what is presented will help the health care teams deal with this neglected culture.

Each case study is an actual situation. For each of the situations a set of strategies has been developed to help meet the needs of this group of people. The book is divided into three parts. The first part is written from the point of view of the heal th care provider in the outpatient clinic setting, addressing nursing, social work, and case management issues for care planning. The second part covers the same issues but from the point of view of the home health care team. The last part identifies so me of the many challenges for the hospice care provider "as the patients' needs change from palliative care to intensive symptom management and family/caregiver education and support."

The single biggest challenge is to recognize that it is impossible to help someone who does not want to be helped. "We must reach out, make ourselves available, and recognize and deal with the urgent needs while simultaneously teaching self-help and buil ding self-esteem." This is a well-written book with a wealth of information to help the care giving professionals. Although, drug use in itself is difficult to handle, those who are HIV positive are even more difficult to work with and help. "The ability to make a difference within one life and for one community becomes a daily reality." A highly recommended book for all academic and medical libraries.

Keywords: Drug Abuse; Needle Exchange Programs

Copyright (c) 1999 - Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Reviews may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution , or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.
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Copyright © 1999 - The University of Illinois at Chicago. All materials in the journal are subject to copyright by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution, or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.

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