HOW DO YOU ACQUIRE HIV? The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) does not spread easily. In the U.S., HIV is mainly spread by having sex or sharing syringes and other injection equipment with someone who has HIV. You can’t get HIV from mosquito bites, coughing or… Read More

WHAT IS HARM REDUCTION? Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who… Read More

WHAT IS HARM REDUCTION? Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who… Read More

WHAT IS HARM REDUCTION? Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who… Read More

WHAT IS OPIOID REPLACEMENT THERAPY? Opioid replacement therapy (ORT) is the substitution of an opioid, such as heroin, with a longer-lasting prescription opioid with less potential for abuse. It’s also known as opioid substitution therapy (OST). Methadone and buprenorphine are opioids that are typically used… Read More

WHAT IS PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS? Prophylaxis means disease prevention. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. Large research studies have shown that PrEP helps prevent new HIV infections when used by people… Read More

WHAT IS POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS? Prophylaxis means disease prevention. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) means taking antiretroviral medications (ARVs) to prevent HIV infection as soon as possible after exposure to HIV. These medications are only available with a prescription. WHO SHOULD USE PEP? Workplace exposure: PEP has been… Read More

HOW DOES HIV SPREAD DURING SEX? To spread HIV during sex, HIV virus particles in blood or sexual fluids must be transmitted from one person to another. Body fluids that can carry and transmit HIV during sex include semen, vaginal fluid, and blood. HIV can… Read More

WHAT ARE CONDOMS? A condom is a tube made of thin, flexible material that is closed at one end. Condoms have been used for hundreds of years to prevent pregnancy. Most condoms are highly effective in preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and certain other sexually… Read More

WHAT IS VIRAL SUPPRESSION? Antiretroviral therapy (ART) keeps HIV from making copies of itself. When a person with HIV begins an ART regimen, the amount of virus in their blood (viral load) drops. For almost everyone who starts taking antiretroviral medication (ARV) daily as prescribed,… Read More

WHAT IS THE DAPIVIRINE VAGINAL RING? The dapivirine vaginal ring is a flexible vaginal ring made of silicone that slowly releases an antiretroviral medication (ARV) called dapivirine over the course of one month to reduce the risk of HIV infection. The ring was developed by… Read More