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The use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs has
helped fuel the spread of HIV since the beginning of the epidemic.
We most often think of injection drug use as the culprit, but the
use/abuse of alcohol and other drugs are an equally significant
though often silent partner.
A 1999 needs assessment report prepared for the Minnesota HIV Services
Planning Council found that 60 percent of respondents believed that
substance use/abuse played a role in their becoming HIV positive.
While HIV disease and substance abuse are distinct illness, each
is affected by the other and each can contribute to the progression
of the other. Both are chronic and life-threatening diseases amplified
by stigma and shame, and they present a complex array of medial
and mental health needs.
The Minnesota AIDS Project substance use systems
advocate works to make these systems more responsive to the needs
of those affected by HIV through research, education and training,
policy recommendations.
The substance use systems advocate also facilitates the AIDS Substance
Abuse Partnership (ASAP), a multidisciplinary coalition of professionals
from HIV and chemical dependency prevention, education and treatment
programs, government and elected officials, and persons directly
impacted by the twin epidemics of HIV and substance abuse.
 Why
would I call the Substance Use Systems Advocate?
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Substance Use Systems Advocacy
in Action
One of the most frequent issues the systems
advocate hears from clients has to do with issues related to disclosure
of their HIV status. In some cases, clients wanted to disclose that
they are HIV positive but were worried about the reaction from staff
or other clients and in other cases, clients have contacted us after
their HIV status was disclosed without their permission.
The substance use systems advocate coordinated the development of
a MAP community forum entitled: "Who Needs to Know: HIV, Disclosure,
and You" and designed a training session on HIV and disclosure
for treatment professionals.
The training presented at a Minnesota Association of Resources for
Recovery and Chemical Health (MARRCH) fall conference resulted in
greater understanding of the issues surrounding both disclosure
and confidentiality as well as an increase in knowledge of HIV and
community resources to assist HIV positive clients.
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more
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