Youth Fight Against HIV and AIDS

National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD), April 10, 2016, serves as an important opportunity to direct our attention to the continued concern that youth aged 13 to 24 remain at high risk for HIV infection; accounting for a significant number of new infections. “Young men who have sex with men (YMSM), especially black/African American YMSM, are at highest risk.”[1]

Since many new infections are transmitted by people who are unaware of their infected status, undiagnosed infections continue to fuel the epidemic. This means that many of those infected are not receiving ongoing medical care and treatment, thereby spreading the virus to others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than half of infected youth in this country are unaware of their infection status.[2]

There is now a prescription HIV prevention option available, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to those at high risk of infection. This medicine must be prescribed by a healthcare professional; it cannot be bought over-the-counter. According to the CDC, “PrEP is for people without HIV who are at very high risk for getting it from sex or injection drug use.”[3] Studies have shown that PrEP is very effective when used according to the directions; one pill taken every day.[4] By adding another layer of protection, condoms, it is found to be even more effective; condoms must be used correctly, every time a person is involved in sexual contact.[5] “Daily PrEP use can lower the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90% and from injection drug use by more than 70%.”[6]

KNOW YOUR HIV STATUS – GET OUT & GET TESTED

NYHAAD raises awareness about prevention, testing, care, and treatment among all youth; key strategies in reducing the impact of the disease in communities. Testing is the only way to know for sure. You cannot rely on symptoms to know if you are HIV-positive. Many people who are infected with the virus may not show any symptoms for years. Testing is the only way to identify infected individuals and get them access to the medical care they need to ensure their health and reduce the further spread of the virus.

HIV testing has never been quicker and easier than it is today with rapid HIV testing. These tests were designed to produce rapid results in less than an hour. Call the healthcare professionals at the New Jersey AIDS/HIV/STD hotline for more information about HIV, HIV testing (free, state-funded testing sites), and

linkage to HIV treatment, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and/or questions/concerns about STDs or hepatitis, contact us by phone at 1-800-624-2377, text/email at 8006242377@njpies.org, or chat www.njhivstdline.org. Calls are free and confidential. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week, every day of the year.

• Referrals for testing sites and other related services
• HIV/AIDS, STD and hepatitis prevention information
• HIV counseling and treatment locations
• HIV treatment information

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[1] CDC. HIV and young men who have sex with men. June 2014.

[2] CDC. HIV among youth. June 2015.

[3] CDC. Daily pill can prevent HIV. December 2015.

[4] CDC. PrEP information sheet. February 2016.

[5] CDC. Are you ready for PrEP? Accessed April 1, 2016.

[6] CDC. PrEP. February 2016.

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New Jersey AIDS/HIV/STD Hotline

Healthcare professionals provide telephone consultation for people seeking information about HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases including hepatitis. Callers receive information tailored to their needs; discussion about prevention, referrals for testing sites and other related services, counseling and testing locations, and information on treatment and adverse reactions to medications. The hotline’s services are provided by the staff at the hotline, nurses, pharmacists and physicians, administered by the New Jersey Poison Center and funded by the New Jersey Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD, and TB services.

About Rutgers

Established in 1766, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is America’s eighth oldest institution of higher learning and one of the nation’s premier public research universities. Serving more than 65,000 students on campuses, centers, institutes and other locations throughout the state, Rutgers is the only public university in New Jersey that is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.

Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) is the health care education, research, and clinical division of Rutgers University, comprising nine schools and their attendant faculty practices, centers, institutes and clinics; New Jersey’s leading comprehensive cancer care center; and New Jersey's largest behavioral health care network.

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