HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention Medication Privacy
December is International HIV/AIDS awareness month. A time set apart to educate communities across the world on how to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS.
Why do we have an International HIV/AIDS Awareness Month?
The brief answer is that, in 1981, the CDC wrote about a recent occurrence of a rare lung infection. This study was later found to be the first reporting on the beginning of the AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) epidemic. The relationship between this epidemic and the LGBT community brought forward discrimination and hardship to an already vulnerable population, and it has claimed the lives of nearly 40 million people worldwide. Unfortunately, the stigma around this condition persists today, creating barriers to proper education on preventing and treating HIV/AIDS.
What Is The Regimen for HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention?
HIV-related mortality rates rose steadily through the 1980s, peaking in 1995 before entering a steady decline ever since. The age-adjusted HIV death rate has dropped almost 10-fold since 1990 and half since 2009. This shift is due to a combination of developments in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention.
ART (antiretroviral therapy) is a revolutionary form of HIV treatment that has transformed an HIV diagnosis from a death sentence into a manageable, but lifelong, condition. The treatment involves taking prescription medication under the supervision of a provider. This process reduces the amount of HIV in your body, which in turn minimizes side effects and damage to the body.
The critical factor underneath it all is that HIV treatment plans are highly regimental and administered on an individual basis–meaning that every single patient’s medication dosage will be unique to them. Doctors then monitor the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load) closely to ensure the regimen’s efficacy.
Usually, people diagnosed with HIV take between 1 and 4 pills daily, each drug serving a unique and vital purpose. For many HIV patients, the responsibility is understandably overwhelming at first because the treatment plan leaves little room for deviation or missteps–any mistakes can potentially lead to health declines.
All of these aspects to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention make prescription medication privacy and security pivotal to the peace of mind and the overall safety of HIV patients. As such, a common concern among HIV patients, and anyone adhering to a strict treatment regime, is 1) to keep their medication altogether and accounted for to prevent tampering and 2) to keep their health condition private, preventing stigma and discrimination.
A Tamper Evident Solution
Complex issues like those that arise in treating HIV/AIDS are one of the most common reasons that everyday individuals invest in the Safe Rx Locking Pill Bottle. These bottles are designed specifically for discretion in covering the prescription label; additionally, the tamper-evident locking cap brings continual peace of mind, allowing patients to focus on living life and thriving.
If you or a loved one share this need for discretion and tamper-evident security concerning your prescription medication, check out our Safe Rx Locking Pill Bottles here.