148 |^5280 |^ AUGUST^2019
THE VALUE OF VIGILANCE
daily pill—also commonly referred to by
its brand name, Truvada—that blocks HIV
from replicating. “I think it’s just been a
huge game changer in terms of people
having really effective options for prevent-
ing HIV,” says Denver Health’s Rowan.
“It used to just be abstinence or condoms,
and those were certainly insufficient.” The
number of PrEP users (see “The ABCs
Of PrEP” on page 146) has grown steadily
since the Food and Drug Administration
approved the drug for preventive use in- According to the CDC, 13,748 U.S.
residents took the medication in 2014; pre-
scriptions were written for 78,360 patients
in 2016. Still, there’s room for growth. The
CDC estimates 1.1 million people are at
an increased risk of contracting HIV and
could be candidates for PrEP.
Denver real estate agent Tim Wetzel,
37, began taking PrEP a few years ago after
learning his partner at the time was HIV-
positive. The drug has since become such
an important part of his life that he does
what he can to spread the word via social
media, using Facebook to organize and
host HIV-testing meetups at Denver-area
bars. “I’m constantly trying to get people
on it and educate those in the community,”
Wetzel says. At a recent event, nearly a
dozen attendees agreed to be tested.
The individual efforts of people like
Wetzel and Conner are important, but a
more coordinated offensive is also neces-
sary. “Syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia
are curable, but too many people are fall-
ing through the cracks,” CDPHE’s Shodell
says. “We urge people to use condoms, talk
to their partners and health care provid-
ers about STIs and sexual health, and get
tested and get treatment.” In early fall, Den-
ver Health plans to launch a campaign to“WE URGE PEOPLE TO USE
CONDOMS, TALK TO THEIR
PARTNERS AND HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS ABOUT STIS AND
SEXUAL HEALTH, AND GET
TESTED AND GET TREATMENT.”
)DPLO\.,QIDQW&UDZO
7RGGOHU7URW .LG&RXUVH
6XQGD\6HSWHPEHU
mychildsmuseum.org•••••••••••••••••••••
Sign up at
mychildsmuseum.org.Early birds - register
by August 17!