Positive Living Magazine

N E W S A N D T R E AT M E N T I N F O R M AT I O N F R O M T H E P O S I T I V E L I V I N G S O C I E T Y O F B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A

ISSN 1712-8536

JULY • AUGUST 2017 VOLUME 19 • NUMBER 4

A FINAL ACT SUICIDE & POZ MEN

Overdose Awareness

Okanagan Outreach

The Vollies

HEALTH CLINICS Good for your body, Good for your soul!

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I N S I D E

Follow us at:  pozlivingbc  positivelivingbc

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PAC’S FIGHTING WORDS

Outreach and support in the Okanagan

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COVER STORY Addressing the high rates of suicide among gay men

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LET’S GET CLINICAL

CTNPT 030 to probe risks of crystal meth usage

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NUTRITION Assessing the risk of oysters

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SISTER TO SISTER

Reflecting on the opioid crisis

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THE POSITIVE GARDENER BACK TALK Don’t let pests ruin your summer

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POZ CONTRIBUTIONS Recognizing Positive Living BC supporters

Finding relevancy in yesterday’s HIV news

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VOLUNTEER PROFILE Volunteering at Positive Living BC

 positivelivingbc.org

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A GLOBAL PROBLEM Campaigning to remove OD stigma

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GIVING WELL

Positive Living Donor Profile

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LAST BLAST One woman’s story about overcoming suicide ideation

HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM MANDATE & DISCLAIMER In accordance with our mandate to provide support activities and prejudice. The program does not recommend, advocate, or endorse facilities for members for the purpose of self-help and self-care, the the use of any particular treatment or therapy provided as information.

Positive Living Society of BC operates a Health Promotion Program The Board, staff, and volunteers of the Positive Living Society of to make available to members up-to-date research and information BC do not accept the risk of, or the responsiblity for, damages, on treatments, therapies, tests, clinical trials, and medical models costs, or consequences of any kind which may arise or result from associated with AIDS and HIV-related conditions. The intent of the use of information disseminated through this program. Persons this project is to make available to members information they can using the information provided do so by their own decisions and access as they choose to become knowledgeable partners with hold the Society’s Board, staff, and volunteers harmless. Accepting their physicians and medical care team in making decisions to information from this program is deemed to be accepting the terms promote their health. The Health Promotion Program endeavours to of this disclaimer. provide all research and information to members without judgment or P5SITIVE LIVING | 1 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

Message The Positive Living Society of British Columbia seeks to empower persons living with HIV disease and AIDS through mutual support and collective action. The Society has over 5700 HIV+ members.

POSITIVE LIVING EDITORIAL BOARD Neil Self — co-chair, Earl Sunshine, co-chair – Ross Harvey, Joel Nim Cho Leung, Elgin Lim, Jason Motz, Adam Reibin MANAGING EDITOR Jason Motz

DESIGN / PRODUCTION Britt Permien FACTCHECKING Sue Cooper COPYEDITING Britney Dennison, Maylon Gardner, Heather G. Ross PROOFING Ashra Kolhatkar CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lorenzo Cryer, Andrew Ehman, Olivier Ferlatte, R Paul Kerston, Fiona Kwan, Katherine Lepick, Tom McCaulay, Jason Motz, Val Nicholson, Sean Sinden, Denise Wozniak PHOTOGRAPHY Britt Permien

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION Adam Reibin DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Elgin Lim TREATMENT OUTREACH COORDINATOR Alan Wood SUBSCRIPTIONS / DISTRIBUTION John Kozachenko Funding for Positive Living is provided by the BC Gaming Policy & Enforcement Branch and by subscription and donations.

Positive Living BC | 803 East Hastings Vancouver BC V6A 1R8

 Reception 604.893.2200  Editor 604.893.2206  living@positivelivingbc.org  positivelivingbc.org

Permission to reproduce: All Positive Living articles are copyrighted. Non-commercial reproduction is welcomed.

For permission to reprint articles, either in part or in whole, please email living@positivelivingbc.org

© 2017 Positive Living

from the chair

NEIL SELF

Thriving amidst the chaos

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had hoped to be writing this column from Positive Living BC’s new digs. In fact, I should have been able to write last issue’s item from 1101 Seymour Street too according to the original construction schedule for the site. But it seems that our new building is like other City of Vancouver projects in how it is behind schedule and a source of frustration for many. At this moment, I am writing from the first floor of 803 East Hastings where the Society’s entire operations have been squeezed onto the first floor to make room for the building’s new owners, who have taken over the second floor.

To members who will have visited us there this summer, I apologize if this cramped, and sometimes frenzied, environment compromised your experience in any way. We are doing our best within the limitations set by construction delays. We still expect to be in the new building by the end of the summer.

But we are learning by experience to make alternate plans.

So at its meeting of July 19, the Board Executive Committee decided to reschedule the Society’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Originally scheduled for August 17, the AGM will now take place on Thursday, September 28, starting with registration at 5:30pm. If all goes according to plan, we will hold the meeting in the new building and combine it with a reception and tour of the new space. Despite the challenges we’ve experienced so far, I can tell you confidently that 1101 Seymour is going to be a beautiful space for members.

We are excited to show it off!

P5SITIVE LIVING | 2 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

Of course, the summer issue of Positive Living Magazine wouldn’t be complete without a call to action to support the Scotiabank’s AIDS WALK to tHrIVe and Music Fest. This year’s event is a bit of a change-up from years past. The WALK encompasses a much shorter route, starting at 11am, September 16 at the Malkin Bowl and moving around Lost Lagoon, then ending back at the Malkin Bowl for the free-entry tHrIVe Music Fest. Positive Living BC is pleased that Blueprint, a local lifestyles and entertainment company, has secured for us an incredible onstage line-up. Our performers include: indie electronic pop duo, Humans; live electronic group, I M U R; singer/songwriter and CBC Searchlight talent contest winner 2016, Desiree Dawson; DJ Skylar Love; and drag artists SHANEL, Ilona, South East, Rose Butch, Maiden China and Cleopatra Compton. tHrIVe will be hosted by Ryan Steele and Symone. There will be plenty of other onsite activities until 4pm, including: a health and wellness fair; a cash bar, beer garden and food; and games and prizes. While entry to the Music Fest is free, the WALK is our Society’s biggest annual fundraiser. One hundred percent of net proceeds directly support our members via the Community Health Fund, which reimburses low-income persons living with HIV for over-the-counter items and treatments essential to their health but not covered by existing health plans—up to $25 monthly.

To register, fundraise, donate or volunteer go to www.aidswalktothrive.ca or call us at 604.915.WALK. We look forward to hearing from you! 5

The Charlie Sheen effect

pIn November 2015, actor Charlie Sheen

publicly disclosed he was HIV-positive.

How might such celebrity announcements affect public health in the population at large? That’s a question scientists grappled with in a study published last year in JAMA Internal Medicine led by John W. Ayers, of San Diego State University. The researchers found that Sheen’s disclosure corresponded with millions of online search queries for HIV prevention and testing, even though neither Sheen himself nor public health leaders called for such action.

In a new follow-up study published in the journal Prevention Science, Ayers and colleagues found that not only did Sheen’s disclosure lead people to seek information about HIV, it also corresponded with record levels of at-home rapid HIV testing sales.

The team collected data on weekly sales of OraQuick, the only rapid in-home HIV test kit available in the United States, to investigate whether Internet queries (based on Google Trends data on searches with “test,” “tests,” or “testing” and “HIV”) could be correlated with any uptick in HIV testing.

“Our strategy allowed us to provide a real-world estimation of the ‘Charlie Sheen effect’ on HIV prevention and contrast that effect with our past formative assessment using Internet searches,” said study coauthor Eric Leas. The week of Sheen’s disclosure coincided with a near doubling in OraQuick sales, which reached an alltime high. Sales remained much higher for the following three weeks, with 8,225 more sales than expected.

“It’s hard to appreciate the magnitude of Sheen’s disclosure,” added study co-author

Benjamin Althouse. “However, when we compared Sheen’s disclosure to other traditional awareness campaigns the ‘Charlie Sheen effect’ is astonishing.” OraQuick sales in the time period around Sheen’s disclosure were nearly eight times greater than sales around World Aids Day. “Our findings build on earlier studies that suggest empathy is easier to motivate others when the empathy is targeted toward an individual versus a group” said coauthor Jon-Patrick Allem. “It is easy to imagine that a single individual, like Sheen, disclosing his HIV status may be more compelling and motivating for people than an unnamed mass of individuals or a lecture from public health leaders.”

Sources: https://www.eurekalert. org/pub_releases/2017-05/sdsu-tcs051217.php

HIV not aided by war on drugs

pCriminalization of drug use has a

negative effect on efforts to prevent and treat PLHIV, says a review of published research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of British Columbia.

The findings, appearing in The Lancet HIV, suggest that the so-called War on Drugs has been unsuccessful in reducing drug use and has put thousands of people in jail who might be better served through drug treatment. The US is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis of opioid use and, in many parts of the world, HIV rates are being driven up by the unmet prevention and treatment needs among injection drug users (IDU).

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Injection drugs continue to be a key driver of the global HIV epidemic, with 51 percent of new HIV cases in Eastern Europe and Central Asia occurring in IDU. “More than 80 percent of the studies evaluating the criminalization of drug use demonstrated worse health outcomes among those targeted by these laws and their communities at large,” said one of the study’s leaders, Stefan Baral. “The evidence that criminalization helps is weak at best and the vast majority of studies show that criminalization hurts.”

Baral et al closely analyzed 106 studies. Of those, 91 suggested that drug criminalization has a negative effect on HIV prevention and treatment, 15 suggested no association, and six suggested a beneficial effect. Baral says policies need to be put in place that allow for programs such as needle exchanges and safe consumption sits to reduce infections and fatal overdoses.

Beyond the stigma of addiction, those in need of drug treatment are often afraid to seek help because it might mean putting themselves at risk of arrest or incarceration. Ideally, Baral says, people who are charged with drug offenses, should be connected with treatment, such as a methadone program designed to wean them off of dangerous opioids.

“We must understand that punitive laws have neither decreased the supply or the use of drugs and have caused adverse health outcomes. The current approach is not working,” Baral said.

Sources: http://www.thelancet.com/ journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS23523018(17)30073-5/fulltext

SIV may hold key: researchers

pVaccines are an essential tool for pre-

venting and treating infectious diseases like polio, chicken pox, and measles. But so far, it has not been possible to develop vaccines capable of contributing to the prevention of chronic infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. New research paves the way for vaccines that, unlike conventional methods, boost the parts of the immune system attacking the viral genes, which are the least active during the infection. This prolongs the resistance of the immune system to the virus.

Traditional vaccines cause a strong stimulation of the parts of the immune system that are most responsive to the specific virus. But the reaction to the vaccine and the infection is often so intense that the immune system ‘loses momentum’ and consequently is not able to completely eliminate the virus.

Researchers have therefore designed a vaccine that boosts the cells of the immune system responsible for the less exposed parts of the virus. As a result, the cells are able to distribute the ‘work load’ and retain the defense against the virus attack for a longer period of time. This gives the immune system time to build a more efficient defense, which may then defeat the remaining of the virus.

“We’re presenting an entirely new vaccine solution. Our vaccine supports the work of the immune system in developing an effective combating mechanism against the virus, rather than immediately combating the toughest parts of the

virus. In combination with other vaccines, this approach can prove to have a highly efficient effect,” says Peter Holst, research team leader.

In 2008, the research team decided to develop a new vaccine strategy, which generates so-called strong immune responses against weak immunostimulatory parts of viruses. Research initially focused on experiments on mice and later on monkeys.

Now, the results of the research team show, that this technology can control the SIV virus infection (simian immunodefiency virus) in monkeys. SIV is a chronic infectious disease and a highly realistic representation of HIV. The results are an important step toward developing a vaccine against HIV and other chronic infections.

“The next phase of our work is to build virus control in all infected animals and later in humans. We’re convinced that it’s possible to identify further improvements in our experiments and thus achieve a well-functioning vaccine, initially against HIV, but also against other chronic infections,” said Holst.

Sources: https://www.eurekalert. org/pub_releases/2017-05/uoctrta051717.php

“Good Samaritans” cleared to report ODs

pAs an opioid epidemic continues to

grow throughout the province, the BC Government has introduced a new act designed to promote 911 calls in the event of an overdose emergency.

The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides an exemption from charges P5SITIVE LIVING | 4 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

of simple possession of a controlled substance as well as from charges concerning a pre-trial release, probation order, conditional sentence or parole violations related to simple possession for people who call 911 for themselves or anyone suffering an overdose, or a person who is at the scene when emergency help arrives.

“During an overdose, a call to 911 can often be the difference between life and death. We hope this new law, and the legal protection if offers, will help encourage those who experience or witness an overdose to make that important call, and save a life,” said Minister of Health Jane Philipott in a statement.

“This law ensures that you can call for help when someone is having a drug overdose and stay to provide them support until emergency responders arrive with guaranteed immunity from certain charges,” said Ralph Goodale, Minister of public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

The passing of the act complements the Government’s new drug strategy, as well as an ongoing federal action on opioids and the Joint Statement of Action to Address the Opioid Crisis signed at the Opioid Summit in Ottawa in November 2016.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/ health-canada/news/2017/05/good_ samaritan_drugoverdoseactbecomeslawincanada.html 5

By Andrew Ehman

REL8 fights for the Okanagan

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EL8 Okanagan was born out of the Positive Gathering in the Spring of 2014. I was at the Gathering and like everyone else, was enjoying socializing and networking. I realised that nothing compares to peer interaction. We have our own evolving language and culture, and we get each other with no need for explanations—the comfort and safety levels are high, and everyone is free to be themselves. I decided to bring these elements back with me to the Okanagan. When I got home, I began to create REL8 Okanagan as a social group.

Although REL8 started as a social group for anyone living with HIV regardless of gender, age, or sexual orientation, we soon realised that there were no peerbased programs and services specifically for PLHIV in the Okanagan. So we began to work on filling that void.

Peer Compass was our first program, a peer mentoring program with a difference. It’s not just a one-off for the newly diagnosed, but for anyone who is HIV-positive and would like help navigating the bumps in the road.

Unlike other peer mentoring programs, we are available as long as you need us on your HIV journey.

To break the isolation that hinders our community, we created POZ Linx, a twice-monthly province-wide moderated video chat for PLHIV. Other programs we developed include the REL8 HIV Walk and Stigma Stomp which we held last September in the pouring rain. It was the first time in five years that Kelowna had seen an HIV/AIDS Walk and we are proud of all our members and volunteers who pitched in to make the walk a success.

We also created the Men’s Advocacy Network (MAN), a private Facebook group for MSM. Information about

health, housing, nutrition, mental health, sex, lifestyle and anything else pertinent to MSM is freely shared and unedited. It’s a free-speech zone that invites input, whatever it may be.

With the creation of REL8 Okanagan North, a social and support group that will serve the north Okanagan based out of Vernon, REL8 is now an integral part of the larger Okanagan community.

REL8 also has a place at the table for people who want to help but are not HIV-positive. Called Scarlet League, it makes the connection between those with HIV and those without. Scarlet League is involved in fundraising, setting up and taking down events, and other volunteer activities as needed. As part of the REL8 community, they are highly valued and are often included in our programming—massage for instance.

In March, REL8 Okanagan became an autonomous Standing Committee of the Positive Living Society of British Columbia. This is a landmark alliance that will benefit our members and our community by offering stable, long-term support to the Okanagan’s HIV community. REL8’s programs will remain in place as we grow and innovate. REL8 sees a bright future, with a strong, supportive presence for our members in the Okanagan.

For more information or to get in contact with REL8 Okanagan, please visit our website at: rel8okanagan.com 5 Andrew Ehman is a Director of Positive Living BC and the Chair of REL8 Okanagan

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By Fiona Kwan

arlier this year, you may recall, oysters caught some bad press. BCCDC issued a warning in January after reports of tainted oysters late in 2016. On February 7th, PHAC issued a Public Health Notice which was only lifted in May after no further cases had been reported after March.

Some of the different local catches were found to contain norovirus, which, if ingested, causes diarrhea and vomiting. Department of Fisheries & Oceans closed four harvest areas and seven shellfish aquaculture sites, but Canada Food Inspection Agency reports 90 percent of sites negative. Cross-contamination during distribution is suspected.

The threat is serious as a person infected with norovirus is contagious for up to 21 days. Norovirus can actually be avoided or destroyed with proper handling and thorough cooking. So not to fear! You can still enjoy oysters when you would like. Here are some tips to minimize the risk for illness.

Safety starts with shopping. If buying oysters still in the shell, the seller should have them kept either in a cold space or covered with ice. They should not be sitting directly exposed to sunshine or warm weather temperatures as some vendors may have them, even if laid on top of ice. If buying packaged pre-shucked oysters, make sure they are stored in a refrigerator or freezer and properly sealed.

When cooking, oysters are done when their edges curl and the centre is firm like a hard boiled egg’s yolk. Stick a thermometer into the thickest part of the oyster and cook until it hits an internal temperature of 90 degrees Celsius for at least 90 seconds.

Oysters are a great source of protein in addition to many important vitamins and minerals. Protein aids in muscle and tissue maintenance and growth, and is especially needed

when there is inflammation in the body, from flu or an injury.

They are high in iron, which helps your blood carry oxygen around the body and lowers fatigue. Vitamin B12, also rich in oysters, helps with this function too, and is essential in keeping nerves working properly.

Although eating raw or lightly cooked oysters carries the risk of contaminants that may make you sick, there are plenty of easy and delicious ways to prepare fully cooked oysters. Not sure how?

Below is a simple recipe for pan fried oysters.

Beat 2 eggs in a bowl. If oysters are bought with the shell, shuck oysters and rinse them with focus on the crevices. While you let the oysters drain, mix salt and pepper (amounts to desired taste) with 1 cup bread crumbs. Dip drained shucked oysters into the beaten eggs, then coat in bread crumb mixture. Set aside to dry for at least half an hour.

Heat 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a pan to 370 degrees F, or until quite hot. Carefully place oysters into the pan, frying until golden brown on one side, then carefully turning them to brown the other side. It should be around 1-2 minutes on each side. Do not overcrowd the pan, and fry until edges are curled.

Remove from pan and serve immediately. Pairs well with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, or your choice of hot sauce. Enjoy! 5 Recipe source: whatscookingamerica.net/Seafood/OystersPanFried.htm Fiona Kwan is a registered dietician at the Dr. Peter Centre.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 7 | MAY •• JUNE 2017

Sister to Sister A Basket full of stars

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By Val Nicholson

magine three jumbo jets crashing into one another at one awful moment. That is the approximate scale of how many people that have died of an overdose here in BC since January 2016. As of this writing, the total has just surpassed 1,600. And it’s only June. This is not including those that have been given Naloxone (a drug that reverses opioid overdoses and is available as a take home kit) and survived.

The opioid crisis is affecting those that are using their drug of choice to the best of their ability, the families that are left behind to grieve, the community that is witnessing these losses and the emotions of the first responders who are trying to save lives. We are a community in crisis; We are a country in crisis.

Every day I hear the screams of the sirens and I hope they arrive in time. I thank the person that called 911. Early this year around 3am I heard someone yelling in the alley behind my residence. After waking to make sure that I was not dreaming, I went out the back of my apartment to find a man that was yelling for someone, anyone, to call 911. He showed me his friend who had overdosed. Following overdose awareness training I had taken, I did my best until paramedics arrived.

After giving him breaths and the first injection of Naloxone, he did not respond. When the ambulance arrived, the attendants worked on him for another twenty minutes with more injections. After the ambulance left I thanked the friend who had had the courage to call for help and stay there with his friend. He asked to stay while he injected as he was going to do it there. I felt safe and stood across from him until he was able to leave. His friend was lucky and survived. I have not seen either of them since that early morning.

I personally know of a young woman who overdosed just before her 21st birthday. When she started to overdose, the person she was with panicked as he did not want the police to come as he thought he would be charged. He dragged the young lady out to an alley and left her there where she died.

Ten years ago in May, there were 10 fatalities related to drug overdose. This past May, the number had risen to 129.

Our communities are changing. As I walk the streets in the DTES, my community, I see Naloxone kits hanging from backpacks, bikes, and purses. I have seen buildings give training to their tenants and support groups at clinics started for those that have had to use their kits. It is emotional and scary, but lives are being saved.

The Vancouver Police Department has said they won’t lay charges just please call 911, but there is still a lot of mistrust out there. I can only hope that the recent announcement of the Good Samaritan Act will minimize the stigma of so many in the community. And I also ask that more of my brothers and sisters get Naloxone training. You can save a life, the life of a friend or loved one, or the friend of a complete stranger.

Imagine a basket full of over 1,600 stars. Each star a memory of someone who has left us, left us far too soon. So many, too many, and this is just in BC. Star bright, star light, in memory of all that we have lost. 5 Val Nicholson is a Peer Navigator at Positive Living BC.

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HPTN

HIV Prevention Trials Network

HIV prevention methods make strides

By R Paul Kerston

O

nce the causative agent, HIV, was discovered, prevention efforts have been in play. To ‘safer sex’ was added harm reduction, which includes Vancouver’s INSITE for injection drug users. As various vaccines were tested and came up short, Treatment as Prevention (TasP) was added to the toolbox. In recent years, Truvada (the trade name for the reverse transcriptase inhibitors emtricitabine, or FTC, combined with tenofovir) has been accepted as a pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. Prevention became highlighted not because efforts at more effective and less toxic treatments are waning but as an additional tool. To reach the United Nations 90-90-90 goal, targeting various points from exposure through treatment offers best results.

HIV-positive people gain from knowing that others can also protect themselves and that the onus isn’t all on full viral suppression with treatment, thus offering those living with the virus greater comfort and everyone more choices.

The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) is an international group of researchers who develop and test the safety and the efficacy of non-vaccine possibilities to prevent HIV transmission.

The network has over 50 ongoing or completed clinical trials in 15 countries. Beyond research, they hold annual meetings to discuss progress and the future. They met this April in Washington, DC. The Principal Investigator of HPTN 052, Dr. Myron Cohen, spoke at the plenary meeting where researchers gathered with community members, and then later addressed the congregation in a separate meeting. Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, also of HPTN, spoke to peers gathered from around the world, including representatives from Asia, South America, the US and elsewhere.

Among current HPTN trials are tests of a novel integrase inhibitor (similar to Dolutegravir) named Cabotegravir which has a long-acting mechanism of action via injection, potentially allowing as much as eight weeks of protection (once sufficient blood levels of the medication are built up) to prevent HIV infection— thus possibly avoiding daily pill-taking. Yet to be proven, HPTN 083 (“Give PrEP a Shot”) seeks to test this hypothesis with 4,500 people, over a 4.5 year period, among men who have sex with men (MSM)—50 percent of whom will be under 30-years old—as well as with transgender women in countries around the world; and there’s a similar trial with women in Africa.

Prevention research is gathering considerable steam as more efforts are focused on the ‘cascade-of-care’ in testing, identifying, caring for and treating HIV-positive people, while the rate of infections continues to remain quite stable among adults worldwide.

In global terms, 2.1 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2015. New infections among children, however, have declined by 50 percent since 2010. 150,000 children were newly infected in 2015, down from 290,000 in 2010. Since 2010 there have been no declines in new infections among adults. Every year since 2010, around 1.9 million [1.9 million–2.2 million] adults have been infected with HIV. Clearly, prevention efforts are a continuing and key part of the fight against HIV. 5 R Paul Kerston lives, rather blissfully, north of Buenos Aires.

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A global problem Campaigning to remove OD stigma

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By Jason Motz

entanyl and other opioid-related overdose deaths continue to climb at alarming rates. In just the first five months of 2017, the province has seen an increase in overdose deaths of 56.9 percent from last year. Despite media coverage, new legislation protecting good Samaritans (see ‘Reality Bites’ on page 4), police and public health warnings about fentanyl-laced drugs, the reports of overdoses in and around Vancouver have not abetted.

In 2015, the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition stated, “prescription opioid related deaths have risen sharply and are estimated to be about 50 percent of annual drug deaths.” But while BC struggles to stem the tide of fentanyl-related deaths, the other provinces are doing no better. Meanwhile, the United States reported 47,500 overdose deaths in 2014. In England, The Guardian reports, for every 1,000 people, approximately eight are a “high-risk opioid user.” In Australia, over 1,100 people died from an overdose in 2014, a 61 percent increase from ten years earlier. The totality of this global epidemic is why August 31st has become a day symbolic of those touched by losses due to overdose. International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) began in Australia in 2012, but its reach is no less important or timely outside of its borders.

Australia’s Annual Overdose Report from 2016 (covering 2004-2014) reveals harrowing stats that even the most hardened social worker from the DTES would find difficult to comprehend: the 30-59 age group accounts for 78 percent of all overdose deaths; Western Australia is the worst state for overdose deaths (per capita: 5.8 per 100,000); and overdose deaths among Aboriginal people increased by 141 percent.

I spoke with John Ryan, CEO of the non-profit health agency Penington Institute that organizes IOAD, for a better understanding of the overdose problem in Australia, and how that country’s

response could aid Canada’s politicians, public health experts, and first responders.

Jason Motz: Why did you get involved with IOAD? John Ryan: IOAD began as a grassroots community response to the overdose. It started as a local event where ribbons were given out for anyone wanting to remember a friend, partner, or family member who had passed away. Since that time it has grown into a movement, not only to remember those we’ve lost, but to encourage community action, share information, and create discussion around overdose prevention and drug policy.

Penington Institute works to advance health and community safety by connecting substance use research to practical action. We help individuals and the wider community through research analysis, workforce education, and public awareness activities such as IOAD. (Editor’s Note: the website www. overdose.com contains a wealth of downloads, resources, tributes, data and an app for anyone interested in learning more about how to promote awareness of de-stigmatizing of overdose.)

There is a lot of stigma and misinformation about overdose.

It’s important to have an informed public debate that looks to evidencebased responses towards drug overdose and drug use more generally.

JM: How has the public John Ryan reception been so far?

JR: Communities from all over the world have been overwhelmingly supportive of IOAD. More and more individuals, community groups, and other organisations are getting involved each year. What began as a grassroots response to remember those lost through overdose has grown into an active movement that highlights a range of overdose and drug related issues.

JM: What challenges, criticisms, and obstacles does IOAD face?

JR: The challenge is getting the message out and getting people to actively engage with the campaign to bring about real

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change. Overdose is a topic that is difficult for many people who have lost a loved one.

If we are to tackle the harmful effects of drug overdose in our community we need to look at what the evidence says and use this to inform our response. We need to focus on removing the stigma of drug overdose, advocate for vulnerable people, and not demonize drug use and drug overdose.

The point of the day is to say that it’s important to speak up about overdose so we can include the ‘lived experience’ of people. Raising awareness of the health, social, and economic drivers of drug-related harm is central to that.



The role of prescription drugs in overdose is beginning to change the conversation around overdose and drug harms 

JM: Describe the Australian context for our readers.

JR: The number of accidental deaths due to drug overdose in Australia is growing rapidly. Despite common perceptions around accidental drug overdose existing solely in the street-based context, Australians aged 40-49 are the most likely to die of a drug overdose. Deaths in this age bracket almost doubled between 2004 and 2014.

Australia has similar trends as those seen in Canada, the US, Europe and elsewhere. Prescription medications are increasingly responsible for more drug-related deaths.

We’re also seeing large increases in overdose deaths in rural and regional areas.

JM: Overdoses are a public health issue. What do you say to people don’t see this as “their problem”?

JR: Overdose deaths are a global problem. The evidence is that overdose can affect anybody.

The idea that the harms caused by drug use and overdose isn’t ‘your problem’ and doesn’t affect you is misguided. Many parts of the world are experiencing drug-related harms of epidemic proportions.

Getting people who have experience of overdose to the policy table is crucial if we are going to implement realistic solutions. Many people have lost someone or been affected by the impacts of overdose. A family member, a partner or a friend – one person’s experiences can have huge and far-reaching effect on many people’s lives.

The role of prescription drugs in overdose is beginning to change the conversation and perception around overdose and drug harms. We need to speak up and raise awareness in terms of addressing the stigma around overdose. Most importantly, we need to advocate for evidence-based responses to drug issues that are centred on compassion and human dignity.

Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted via email and the answers have been edited for style and page limitations. 5 Jason Motz is the Managing Editor of Positive Living Magazine. He is also a freelance writer living in Vancouver, BC.

OVERDOSE BY THE NUMBERS

BC: 129 OD deaths in May 2017 alone, or 4.2 per day US: OD deaths per year 43,982 (120 per day on average); 3+ out of 5 OD deaths in the US are linked to opioids Uruguay: 365 OD deaths annually out of a population of 3.4 million Europe: Approx. 11,800 OD deaths per year Global: 187,000 OD deaths every year.

The 2014 estimate … 207,000.

SIGNS OF AN OD

An overdose might look different from one person to the next.

But there are a few things you can look for if you suspect someone may have overdosed on an opioid like fentanyl or any other drug. Look for these signs if you think someone may have overdosed:

r Slow, shallow breathing or no breathing r Severe sleepiness or person is not moving / responsive r Slow heartbeat r Person may be choking, or you can hear gurgling sounds r Cold, clammy skin r Trouble walking or talking r Pupils are tiny r If you suspect someone may have overdosed call 911 immediately, time is of the essence

P5SITIVE LIVING | 12 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

Time to talk

Suicide among HIV-positive men

By Olivier Ferlatte

I

’ve been working in the field of HIV prevention and gay men’s health for more than 15 years.

During this time, I never heard about the high rates of suicide among PLHIV, including gay and bisexual men living with HIV. I never saw the issue highlighted on a poster.

The topic wasn’t covered at the HIV and gay men’s health conferences I attended. And I can’t recall suicide being brought up in any of the community and service providers meetings I attended.

But I did hear personal stories of suicide among gay and bisexual men living with HIV. I heard a rumor once at the Pumpjack that someone who was HIV-positive for over 25 years had recently ended his life. Another time, a colleague of mine whispered to me that a newly diagnosed young man we both knew hurt himself badly after “falling” from the Burrard Bridge. I remember another time when a long-time volunteer didn’t show up for his shift and I never saw him again—years later I learned from a friend that he died by suicide.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 13 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

continued next page

These anecdotes prompted me to look into suicide among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men.

I searched through various databases to see what other researchers reported on this issue and I came across several reports that point to an alarming rate of suicide attempts and death amongst PLHIV. One local study from the British Columbia Centre for Excellence looked at suicide trends among HIV-positive people on antiretroviral therapy between 1996 and 2012. The study found that while suicide deaths declined among this group, they remained three times higher than the general population.



We need to build safe spaces for people to share their stories and have real conversations about how we can best provide support. 

We know that gay and bisexual men represent the largest population of HIV-positive people in Canada and the US. We also know that gay and bisexual men are four times more likely to attempt suicide. But despite knowing these facts there is little research that looks specifically at suicide among gay and bisexual men who are HIV-positive. And the studies that do exist only look at trends and do not explore why suicide is higher in this community, and more importantly, what we can do to help prevent suicide.

These gaps in knowledge are what motivated my colleagues and I to look more deeply at the issue of suicide among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. We used data from Sex Now, a national periodic survey spearheaded by the Community-Based Research Centre for Gay men’s Health. We used data from their latest survey that was conducted between November 2014 and April 2015 (For more information about the survey visit www.cbrc.net).

Nearly 8,000 Canadian gay and bisexual men completed the latest Sex Now survey, including 673 HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. Among the HIV-positive respondents, one in five said they contemplated suicide in the last year. One in twenty reported a suicide attempt for the same time period.

The rate of suicide attempts in that survey year was 1.5 times higher among gay and bisexual men living with HIV compared to HIV-negative men, and more than 12 times higher than the general population of Canadian men (as reported by Statistics Canada). While analyzing these statistics, we wondered what was causing the elevated risk of suicide— we concluded that HIV stigma might be a significant contributing factor.

Researchers have found that HIV stigma causes several negative health outcomes among those living with HIV including depression, lower social support, and lower levels of adherence to medications.

However, the relationship between HIV stigma and suicide has not yet received the same level of attention from the scientific community.

Now, for the first time since the Sex Now survey launched in 2002, HIV-positive men are asked about their experiences of HIV stigma. The results found that experiences of HIV stigma are common among gay and bisexual men who are HIV-positive; in the last year 57 percent reported being socially excluded because of their HIV status, 22 percent were rejected as a sexual partner, 17 percent were called names or verbally assaulted because they were HIV-positive and three percent were physically assaulted.



Gossip and rumors only perpetuate shame and stigma around mental health and suicide. 

We also found that this level of stigma increased the risk of suicide ideation and attempts—particularly for those who experienced multiple forms of stigma.

Among those who reported none of the four categories of HIV stigma we measured, two percent also reported a suicide attempt in the previous year.

Of those who reported one type of HIV stigma five percent reported a suicide attempt in the previous year.

Meanwhile, seven percent and nine percent of those who reported two and three forms of stigma reported attempts. And 40 percent of those who reported experiencing all four forms of stigma measured reported a recent suicide attempt.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 14 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

We recently published these results in AIDS Care, an international peer reviewed journal, to draw attention to this issue and start a much-needed conversation about the need for targeted prevention interventions for gay and bisexual men living with HIV. Suicide is preventable. But to find solutions we need to break the silence around HIV in the gay and bisexual communities. Gossip and rumours only perpetuate shame and stigma around mental health and suicide. We need to build safe spaces for people to share their stories and have real conversations about how we can best provide support.



While suicide declined among those HIV-positive on ARV, they remained three times higher than the general population 

To spark conversation, I have been working on the Still Here project. Still Here is a photography and art project featuring gay and bisexual men affected by suicide. Both HIV-positive and HIV-negative men have contributed to the project. All have been personally affected by suicide; either they have previously struggled with suicidal thoughts or they have lost a gay or bisexual friend or family member to suicide.

Every Still Here participant was given a camera to capture their experience. These photographs detail the factors that contributed to suicide ideation, grief, and loss. The photos focused on topics like HIV stigma, homophobia, and financial struggles (to view the photos please visit: www.thestillhereproject.com).

Beyond starting conversations, we also need to improve access to mental-health services for gay and bisexual men who are HIV-positive. I recently presented my results at a community forum for HIV-positive gay and bisexual men held by Positive Living BC, and many of the men in attendance expressed frustration with the health services available to them. There is a lack of affordable counselling services and many mental health professionals are poorly equipped to discuss the experiences of HIV-positive individuals. And free services tend to have long wait times. We need to make it easier for PLHIV to access mental health services in a timely manner.

Finally, if we want to reduce suicide we must challenge stigma. Enormous progress has been made to improve HIV treatment but less attention has been given to improve public perceptions of HIV. HIV stigma is still alive and it’s killing gay and bisexual men.

If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, there is help. Please call the Crisis Center for support: 1-8000-suicide or visit crisiscentrechat.ca to chat with someone. 5

Dr. Olivier Ferlatte is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Men’s Health Research program and the Director of Still Here, a photography and research project on suicide in LGBTQ populations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

From Aidsmap: “Looking into the 96 deaths from suicide in more detail, 91 occurred in men, with similar rates in gay and heterosexual men. Rates were elevated in injecting drug users, compared to other groups. Women’s suicide rates were not higher than those in the general population. Comparing rates of suicide in men with HIV to rates in men in the general population of the same age … the rate was double that of the general population. Four in ten suicides occurred in the first year after diagnosis. During this time, men’s suicide rate was five times that of the general population.”

Source: www.aidsmap.com/Suicide-accounts-for-2-of-deathsin-people-with-HIV-twice-the-rate-of-the-general-population/ page/3130052/

SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES

r Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC: 604.872.3311 r Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP): www.suicideprevention.ca/about-us/contact-us/ r Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): www.cmha.ca/mental_health/preventing-suicide/ r Centre for Suicide Prevention (Calgary-based): www.suicideinfo.ca/ r LGBT Suicide Prevention: Itgetsbetter.org

P5SITIVE LIVING | 15 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

Summer care tips for leaves and pests

By Lorenzo Cryer

S

ummer is finally here. Time to get out and enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer. Go for a hike. There are so many excellent walking trails within an hour of our glorious city. Go for a bike ride. So many great cycle trails, too.

Spend time in the garden. That would be my first choice.

Get in amongst your plants and see how they are growing.

Prune out any unwanted growth. Check for weeds. Remove them before they set seed. Check for pest and disease. Aphids can be a nuisance and are easily removed with water and your fingers.

Fill a spray bottle with water and have a look all over your plants, especially on the underside of leaves.

To keep powdery mildew at bay, water in the morning when possible. Powdery mildew travels on the air and settles on wet leaves where the spores take hold. Watering in the morning allows the plant to dry, thus reducing the risk of infection. If only a small portion of the plant is affected, prune out the infected material. If the whole plant is suffering, just remove it completely.

Scale and other sap-sucking insects can be controlled with a spray of vegetable oil, soap, and water. Combine one cup of plain vegetable oil, two drops of dish soap, fill with water and shake to emulsify. Spray the entire plant, including the undersides of the leaves. Wait twenty-four hours and wash off. The oil coats the insect; the soap helps it stick, which suffocates the pest. Easy and non-toxic.

Ants can be a problem in pots. Rub lemon, a natural deterrent, around the base of the pots. The presence of ants can suggest there are problems with some plants. Ants farm aphids and scale for the honeydew they produce. Keeping your plants healthy and happy is the first defence.

One of my favourite summer flowering plants is the Fuchsia.

They are perfect for the lightly shaded parts of your garden. The flowers attract hummingbirds. (Who doesn’t love these little jewels of the sky?) Fuchsias consist of 122 species and thousands of hybrids and cultivars developed for their pendulous flowers, which come in a fascinating variety of forms and a wonderful range of colours in shades of red, white, pink and purple. They are deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs or perennials treated almost as herbaceous plants.

Most of the large flowered American species inhabit areas of high rainfall, sometimes growing as epiphytes or on boulders in moss forests. Hummingbirds and honeyeaters are the main pollinators. Habit varies form upright shrubs to spreading bushes.

Trailing lax varieties are ideal for hanging baskets. Strong upright types may be trained as compact bushes, standards, or espaliers.

In cultivation, they are moderately frost hardy to frost tender.

They require moist, but well-drained, fertile soil in sun or partial shade and shelter from strong winds and the afternoon sun. In most cases, pinching back at an early age and then pruning after flowering will improve shape and flower yield. Propagate from seed or cuttings. Keep an eye out for spider mite, white fly, rust and gray mold.

Enjoy your summer. Don’t forget the sunscreen when you are out and about. 5 Lorenzo Cryer owns and operates Dig Dug Done, a garden design consultancy in Vancouver.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 16 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

By Tom McAulay

BACK TO THE OLD HOUSE

I

came upon the following article at an opportune moment.

Positive Living will be moving back to our old site at Helmcken and Seymour Streets, after two and a half years away. It is remarkable how similar the sentiments around moving are today as they were in 1991, when the move to our old site was a new idea made reality.

While the details of both circumstances differ—who we will share the new space with and what programs and services will be delivered in the new building, the fact that we are moving into a newly constructed building and our now established relationship with AIDS Vancouver, to name a few—the enthusiasm for the pending move is much the same.

I began volunteering at (then) BCPWA within two years of the move into our old building. Having just graduated from UBC School of Architecture, my skills were put to use. First, I was

asked to help locate the position for a new wheelchair lift that the Province had given us a grant for. That original project blossomed into a renovation of the entire building where some spaces were gutted and rebuilt while other areas were tweaked and redefined.

This time around, I became involved in the new building project during the last phase of design and construction. As such, this adds to my sense of déjà vu for moving into our new space.

And so, from Vancouver PWA Newsletter Issue 49 July 1991. 5 Tom McAulay is a member of the History Alive Committee.

REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT I have been president now for three months and it seems like three years … No kidding! The first thing I will say is that the next person who asks, “So, how are you enjoying your position?” is going to be in big trouble. Cause enjoy is not the best word to describe what I am experiencing! This is the greatest challenge of my life and at least five times a day I feel like it’s too much. The rest of the day I am golfing.

Some projects of note that are taking place at the board level are, first and foremost, our plans for a new home in the spring. Not only will this space, located at Helmcken and Seymour, alleviate our cramped conditions, it will also house at least two other major organizations in Vancouver, AIDS Vancouver and The Women’s and AIDS Support Network (later known as The Positive Women’s Network). We have hired a consultant, Pat Archibald, who has been instrumental in laying the necessary groundwork. This project ties

in with our new collaboration with AIDS Vancouver. During the Resource Centre planning, PWA and AV began to eliminate the duplication of service that was and is happening. Now, the organizations are stronger individually and stronger as a team. Congratulations to both boards, staff, and Pat Archibald for facilitating our meetings.

Other ways our new-found collaboration is being felt is with our joint counselling training program being undertaken by PWA, AIDS Vancouver Women, and AIDS Project which will see the formation of a lay counselling program for many different organizations dealing with AIDS or HIV. The money for this project will, we hope, be coming from the Provincial Government’s Strategy released at the National AIDS Conference held in Vancouver in April.

Yours @ Peace, Rick Waines.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 18 | MAY •• JUNE 2017

Giving Well

Grace Kim, Scotiabank Senior Manager for Regional Marketing

C

orporate sponsorship is a necessity for the Positive Living Society of BC. Without our sponsors, public events such as AIDS Walk to tHrIVe would be, at worst, in jeopardy. At best, they would be a much more meager affair. Of course, sponsors are integral to community-driven organzations, whether they are on Forbes’ list of the best employers in Canada or a local startup. We are reliant and ever thankful for the generosity of all the groups and individuals who have allied with us.

For the sponsors themselves, their goals and aims may be different from one group to the next. As Positive Living BC is one of Vancouver’s leaders in community engagement, education, and support for PLHIV, sponsors who work with us to see our events and projects through to completion are making a public commitment to public health. With their support, we are given a bigger megaphone through which to shout for greater treatment access, end of stigma, housing options, among the many causes central to our work.

To honour Scotiabank, one of the long-time sponsors of AIDS WALK, Grace Kim, Senior Manager for Regional Marketing, gives some insight into the giving well rationale that has made the partnership between the HIV community in Vancouver and one of Canada’s leading financial institutions a harmonious and successful venture.

Q. What is Scotiabank’s giving philosophy?

At Scotiabank, investing in our communities has been a focus for 185 years.

Our goal has always been to help create a better life for people in the communities we serve. This is why we’re proud to partner with Positive Living BC, and P5SITIVE LIVING | 20 | MARCH •• APRIL 2017

A DONOR PROFILE

By Jason Motz

to be the title sponsor of the Scotiabank AIDS Walk since 2008.

Q. How has this partnership benefited Scotiabank?

Through this partnership, Scotiabank is proud to contribute to creating an environment where people feel involved, respected, valued, connected and are able to be their authentic selves. Embracing the diversity of the communities in which we operate makes Scotiabank a great place for our customers to do business.

Q. Why is diversity important to Scotiabank?

As Canada’s international bank, we are a leader when it comes to inclusion. Our culture of inclusion at Scotiabank allows us to reflect the diverse communities in which we operate – and our commitment to building this culture for all of our customers and employees is the driving force behind the Bank’s support for organizations like Positive Living BC. 5

Jason Motz is the managing editor of Positive Living magazine.

Antiretroviral & non-prescription drug interactions

By Katherine Lepik

T

he phrase “does not play nicely with others” may bring to mind the image of kids arguing on the playground, but also describes the effect of mixing certain medicines together.

A drug interaction occurs when a drug increases or decreases the effect of another in a way that may be harmful.

Antiretrovirals (ARVs) are used to control HIV in the body, maintain good health, and cut the risk of spreading the virus. Interactions between ARVs and other medicines may result in the ARVs not working well (the plasma viral load may increase and drug resistance may develop), or may raise the risk of side effects from either of the medications.

Drug interaction reviews often focus on prescription medicines, but it is important to know that ARVs can also interact with non-prescription medicines and supplements.

Most non-prescription antihistamines and decongestants can be used with ARVs, but there is a key exception: some corticosteroid nose sprays including triamcinolone (Nasacort) and fluticasone (Flonase) are now available without a prescription. Avoid these products if you are taking a “booster” drug like ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra) or cobicistat (in Prezcobix, Stribild, Genvoya). Boosters can increase the risk of serious steroid side effects by affecting the balance of natural steroid hormones in the body.

Many non-prescription treatments for stomach upset and heartburn can interact with HIV medicines. Antacid tablets or liquids with calcium, aluminum, or magnesium (e.g. Tums, Maalox, Diovol) may stop an ARV from being absorbed into the body. If you are on atazanavir (Reyataz), dolutegravir (Tivicay, Triumeq), elvitegravir (in Stribild, Genvoya), raltegravir (Isentress) or rilpivirine (Edurant, Complera), talk to your pharmacist about how to avoid this interaction.

Stomach acid-lowering drugs can interact with medicines that need stomach acid for proper absorption into the body. Certain Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) including esomeprazole (Nexium) or omeprazole (Olex) are now available without a prescription. These drugs should NOT be used if you are taking atazanavir (Reyataz), nelfinavir (Viracept) or rilpivirine (Edurant, Complera), because PPIs reduce the absorption of these ARVs. H2 blockers like ranitidine (Zantac) or famotidine (Pepcid AC) can lower the absorption of atazanavir (Reyataz) and rilpivirine (Edurant, Complera). If you are taking these drugs, it may be possible to use an H2 blocker, but this will depend on both the dose of your ARVs, and the dose and timing of the stomach medicine.

For supplements, be aware of the following: Mineral supplements including calcium, iron, magnesium or zinc may reduce the absorption of dolutegravir (Tivicay, Triumeq), elvitegravir (in Stribild, Genvoya), raltegravir (Isentress) or rilpivirine (Edurant, Complera).

St. John’s Wort decreases the levels of most ARVs and can lead to treatment failure. Do NOT use St. John’s Wort if you are taking ARVs. Avoid drug interactions, give your healthcare providers a list of your ARVs before filling a new prescription or selecting a non-prescription product. 5 Katherine Lepik is a Pharmacist at St. Paul’s Hospital.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 22 | MARCH •• APRIL 2017

Study looks at problematic use of crystal meth

A

By Sean Sinden

new pilot study (CTNPT 030) is looking into the possibility of interventions to reduce problematic crystal methamphetamine (MA) use in gay, bisexual, and queer men across British Columbia.

“Our previous research has found that crystal methamphetamine is associated with poorer treatment adherence among men living with HIV and increased likelihood of HIV acquisition among HIV-negative men” said Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, Assistant Professor at the University of Victoria.

These observations, which have also been seen by other research groups across many western countries, were found in the Momentum Health Study in Vancouver, which followed a group of 774 gay, bisexual, and queer men of mixed HIV status in Metro Vancouver.

Dr. Lachowsky set out to design a project to reduce problematic crystal MA use and improve linkages to prevention and care. Before beginning a large, randomized trial, it was necessary to assess the feasibility of carrying out an interventional study and whether or not it would be acceptable to diverse community members.

A committee of gay, bisexual, and queer men of mixed HIV status who have used crystal MA will guide the research. By engaging community members with lived experience and community agencies, CTNPT 030 will aim to determine the feasibility and acceptability of various interventions to reduce MA use, to design communityinformed study outcomes and questionnaires for a larger trial, and to determine the feasibility of conducting a larger trial.

This pilot trial has two parts. First, 20 community members will be interviewed to identify relevant topics and experiences with existing crystal MA interventions; this information will be used to design an online survey. Second, 500 community members will be recruited to complete the survey. Information collected in the survey will focus on eligibility and willingness to participate in a larger intervention trial and on the characteristics of acceptable interventions, study design, and measurement of problematic crystal MA use.

“Through this pilot trial, we aim to design a larger, communityapproved interventional trial that will be valuable to everyone involved, including researchers, service providers, and participants.”

Recruitment for the qualitative interviews begins in late 2017 with an online survey set for spring 2018. If you would like to

participate in this project, please contact Nathan at nlachowsky@ uvic.ca or 250.472.5739. 5 Sean Sinden is the Communications & Knowledge Translation Officer for the CTN.

Other Studies enrolling in BC CTNPT 014

Kaletra/Celsentri combination therapy for HIV in the setting of HCV BC sites: Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, Vancouver; Cool AID Community Clinic, Victoria

CTN 222

Canadian co-infection cohort BC site: St. Paul’s

CTN 262

Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS) BC Coordinator: Rebecca Gormley, 604.558.6686 or rgormley@cfent.ubc.ca

CTN 281

EPIC 4 Study BC site: BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre

CTN 283

The I-Score Study BC site: Vancouver ID clinic

CTN 286

TriiAdd Study BC sites: Cool AID Community Clinic, Victoria | Oak Tree Clinic; Vancouver IDC

CTN 292A

Development of a screening algorithm for predicting high-grade anal dysplasia in HIV+ MSM BC site: St. Paul’s

CTN 292B

Treatment of high-grade anal dysplasia in HIV+ MSM BC site: St. Paul’s

Visit the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network database at www.hivnet.ubc.ca for more info.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 23 | MARCH •• APRIL 2017

PLAYWRIGHT AWARD to the volunteer who is enthusiastic & over the top.

Winner—Stephen R. PRODUCER AWARD to the volunteer who goes above & beyond to be help & be supportive.

Winner—Paul K. UNDERSTUDY AWARD to the volunteer who is friendly, nurturing, & cheerful.

Winner—Ray S. CHARACTER AWARD to the volunteer who is multitalented, multifaceted, & displays a range of talent.

Winner—Matthew M. MILESTONE AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR LONG- TERM SERVICE:

20 years Jake T. 15 years Grant I. — Elis A. 10 years Bounkham S. — Brian G. — Bernd C. — Andrew I. — Tom M. — Bradford M. — Dave W. — Denise W. P5SITIVE LIVING | 25 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

Where to find

HELP

If you’re looking for help of information on HIV/AIDS, the following list is a starting point.

For more comprehensive listings of HIV/AIDS organizations and services, please visit www.positivelivingbc.org/links

bA LOVING SPOONFUL

Suite 100 – 1300 Richards St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3G6  604.682.6325  clients@alovingspoonful.org  lovingspoonful.org

cAIDS SOCIETY OF KAMLOOPS

(ASK WELLNESS CENTRE) 433 Tranquille Road Kamloops, BC V2B 3G9  250.376.7585 or 1.800.661.7541  info@askwellness.ca  askwellness.ca

bAIDS VANCOUVER

803 East Hastings Vancouver, BC V6A 1RB  604.893.2201  contact@aidsvancouver.org  aidsvancouver.org

bAIDS VANCOUVER ISLAND (Victoria)

713 Johnson Street, 3rd Floor Victoria, BC V8W 1M8  250.384.2366 or 1.800.665.2437  info@avi.org  avi.org

bAIDS VANCOUVER ISLAND (Courtenay)  250.338.7400 or 1.877.311.7400  info@avi.org  avi.org/courtenay

bAIDS VANCOUVER ISLAND (Nanaimo)  250.753.2437 or 1.888.530.2437  info@avi.org  avi.org/nanaimo

bAIDS VANCOUVER ISLAND (Port Hardy)  250.902.2238  info@avi.org  avi.org/porthardy

bANKORS (EAST)

46 - 17th Avenue South Cranbrook, BC V1C 5A8  250.426.3383 or 1.800.421.AIDS  gary@ankors.bc.ca  ankors.bc.ca

bANKORS (WEST)

101 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H1

 250.505.5506 or 1.800.421.AIDS  information@ankors.bc.ca  ankors.bc.ca

bDR. PETER CENTRE

1110 Comox Street Vancouver, BC V6E 1K5  604.608.1874  info@drpetercentre.ca  drpetercentre.ca

bLIVING POSITIVE

RESOURCE CENTRE OKANAGAN 168 Asher Road Kelowna, BC V1X 3H6  778.753.5830 or 1.800.616.2437  info@lprc.ca  livingpositive.ca

bMCLAREN HOUSING

200-649 Helmcken Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5R1  604.669.4090  info@mclarenhousing.com  mclarenhousing.com

bOKANAGAN ABORIGINAL AIDS SOCIETY 200-3717 Old Okanagan Way Westbank, BC V4T 2H9  778.754.5595  info@oaas.ca  oaas.ca

bPOSITIVE LIVING

FRASER VALLEY SOCIETY Unit 1 – 2712 Clearbrook Road Abbotsford, BC V2T 2Z1  604.854.1101  info@plfv.org  plfv.org

bPOSITIVE LIVING NORTH

#1 - 1563 Second Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3B8  250.562.1172 or 1.888.438.2437  positivelivingnorth.org

bPOSITIVE LIVING NORTH WEST

3862F Broadway Avenue Smithers, BC V0J 2N0  250.877.0042 or 1.866.877.0042  plnw.org P5SITIVE LIVING | 26 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

bPURPOSE SOCIETY FOR YOUTH & FAMILIES 40 Begbie Street New Westminster, BC V3M 3L9  604.526.2522  info@purposesociety.org  purposesociety.org

bREL8 OKANAGAN

P.O. Box 20224, Kelowna BC V1Y 9H2  250-575-4001  rel8.okanagan@gmail.com  www.rel8okanagan.com

bRED ROAD HIV/AIDS NETWORK

61-1959 Marine Drive North Vancouver, BC V7P 3G1  778.340.3388  info@red-road.org  red-road.org

bVANCOUVER NATIVE HEALTH SOCIETY 449 East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6A 1P5  604.254.9949  vnhs@shawbiz.ca  vnhs.net

bVANCOUVER ISLAND PERSONS

LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS SOCIETY 1139 Yates Street Victoria, BC V8V 3N2  250.382.7927 or 1.877.382.7927  support@vpwas.com  vpwas.com

bWINGS HOUSING SOCIETY 12–1041 Comox Street Vancouver, BC V6E 1K1  604.899.5405  wingshousing@shaw.ca  wingshousing.org

bYOUTHCO

205–568 Seymour Street Vancouver, BC V6B 3J5  604.688 1441 or 1.855.968.8426  info@youthco.org  youthco.org

POSITIVE LIVING BC SOCIETY BUSINESS SPECIAL UPDATE

JOIN A SOCIETY COMMITTEE!

Due to a number of factors, most having to do with several successive delays in the dates we’ve been given for moving from our current, temporary, offices to our new, permanent, offices at 1101 Seymour Street – we still don’t have a firm date for the move, but are assuming it will be in early September – Positive Living BC’s Board Executive Committee decided at its meeting of July 19 to reschedule the Society’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

If you are a member of the Positive Living Society of BC, you can join a committee and help make important decisions for the Society and its programs and services. To become a voting member on a committee, you will need attend three consecutive committee meetings. Here is a list of some committees. For more committees visit positivelivingbc.org, and click on “Get Involved” and “Volunteer”.

The re-scheduled AGM, which was to have occurred on August 17, will now take place on

Education & Communications_ Adam Reibin  adamr@positivelivingbc.org  604.893.2209

Board & Volunteer Development_ Marc Seguin  marcs@positivelivingbc.org  604.893.2298

Thursday, September 28 at the new building at 1101 Seymour Street, starting with Registration at 5:30 pm.

History Alive!_ Adam Reibin  adamr@positivelivingbc.org  604.893.2298

More information will be forthcoming soon.

Positive Living Magazine_Jason Motz  jasonm@positivelivingbc.org  604.893.2206

If, in the meantime, you have any questions, please contact Board Secretary Joel Leung at >>  joell@positivelivingbc.org or Executive Director Ross Harvey at >> rossh@positivelivingbc.org.

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Positive Action Committee_ Ross Harvey  rossh@positivelivingbc.org  604.893.2252

ViVA (women living with HIV)_Charlene Anderson  charlenea@positivelivingbc.org  604.893.2217

m BC ASOs & Healthcare providers by donation: Minimum $6 per annual subscription. Please send ____ subscription(s) m Please send Positive Living BC Membership form (membership includes free subscription) m Enclosed is my donation of $______ for Positive Living * Annual subscription includes 6 issues.

Cheque payable to Positive Living BC.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 27 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

Last Blast Riding through the suicide tunnel

A

By Denise Wozniak

bout 15 years ago, I attended an HIV workshop in Toronto where a number of us got together to talk about depression and the problems we had volunteering in an environment where friends and peers were dying.

Today, I ask myself why did I survive but not my friends? One reason was getting through the suicide tunnel. There was a long period when I felt it was a matter of time before I would “check out.” Looking back it seems so bizarre now.

After my diagnosis, I tried four times to end it. The first time, I stood on a bridge over a railway track and was so close to jumping. It was then I noticed the tracks were rusty. “How often did that train come along? What if I didn’t die and just lay there for a long time in pain?”

The next time was when I decided to stop wearing my seatbelt. After driving beltless for a while a voice came into my head: “I’m just that lucky that I would be thrown from the car and end up as a paraplegic with HIV.” Re-fasten seatbelt!

After a year or two of thinking of various schemes, I settled on an overdose of sleeping pills. Each time after the overdose, I woke up and was stumbling around for days.

It is a morbid subject and many people have sadly gone through with suicide but the point I’m trying to make is that I wasn’t good at killing myself, and I’m kind of glad. I came to realize, “I am not my illness.” So immersed in my misery over my circumstances, I had lost vital parts of myself: my humour, my love of hearing birds sing, or seeing an ant carry a heavy object across the pavement.

I have never truly believed that my disease determines who I am. I had a life before HIV. It wasn’t a wealthy or all that happy of a family life, but my personality was lost in the misery

of feeling life was unfair and not worth living. I was missing what was right in front of me: people were nice to me, I had stopped caring about myself, and I deserved better treatment from my self-worth. I had to start believing that I could be okay without wanting others to build me up. I had to understand that I had been through incredibly difficult times and I was still alive. I had overcome my fear of dying.

When I realized that, life took a new direction. I could see that some people had worse problems and they survived under pressure, they even thrived and became better. Somehow, in the midst of all my real sadness, I had missed seeing that people cared whether I killed myself. Too many people miss this vital piece of the puzzle of life.

There was another meeting, a workshop at a Positive Living Gathering. In attendance, was a beautiful young man with long, shiny blond hair and a bright complexion. He was asked to walk over to the window to look out and describe what he saw. He said it had been raining. His presence brought me a sense of peace. A year later, I was told he had taken his life. I was shocked and sad.

I didn’t know him and I cannot say what it was about him that made it feel my heart was in his hands as he described his view of the outside. I wished I had told him how he made me feel—that tender moments were awaiting him. I will never forget how he made me feel at peace finally. 5 Denise Wozniak is a certified public speaker.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 28 | JULY •• AUGUST 2017

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