Comments on: Communities of Color and New Media Use: Part II

By: The AIDS.gov Team

The AIDS.gov Team — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:31:27 +0000

Thank you, NIDA and Matthew, for your thoughtful dialogue. We appreciate your willingness to engage in this conversation.

By: Public Information & Liaison Branch

Public Information & Liaison Branch — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:57:02 +0000

Thank you for your interest in this topic. We learned in our research that teens respond to stories that reflect real life. In this story, the affected girl had obviously shared this information with friends. We believe this reflects the reality of some young people who get HIV/AIDS.
If it were a doctor revealing this confidential piece of information, we would understand the concern about privacy; but we are telling one story about one young woman to illustrate an extremely important point – that is, drug and alcohol use can lead to impaired judgment and risky sexual behaviors that can result in HIV infection. To see the continued storyline, go to http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/english/message/webisodes.html. There is a second video spot as well as webisodes that carry the story forward.
We appreciate your feedback.
Public Information & Liaison Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH

By: Public Information & Liaison Branch

Public Information & Liaison Branch — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:57:02 +0000

By: Public Information & Liaison Branch

Public Information & Liaison Branch — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:57:02 +0000

By: Public Information & Liaison Branch

Public Information & Liaison Branch — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:57:02 +0000

By: Public Information & Liaison Branch

Public Information & Liaison Branch — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:57:02 +0000

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:29:46 +0000

Thanks for covering this very important topic but I must say I am very concerned by the NIDA video associated with this blog. While it is obvious the video message is focused on the connection between substance abuse and HIV, it is also clear that the video is promoting the “outing” of someone’s HIV status to a third party. What is not clear is why NIDA did not see this (or worse, if they did), and it is not clear whether the woman had permission to disclose her friend’s HIV status. This video is basically saying it is okay to violate someone’s confidentiality (is that even legal?). Yes, we want to eliminate stigma, but outing people is not going to help, even if it is among friends? Will this video encourage folks to be tested, or will it encourage them not to tell others since they do not know how that person will share the information. True, disclosing one’s HIV status can help reduce stigma, but it must be a personal choice. Folks must be able to decide when it is the right time to disclose their own HIV status, and the government should be doing all it can to promote a safe environment for them to do so. This video does just the opposite. True, not every issue can be covered in a short video, but if we are going to use new media then we have an extra obligation to make sure the meesages we are trying to convey do not promote ideas which will make it less likey for people to self-disclose their HIV status. Do others see it the same way?
Thanks.