California vs. AIDS -- Governor's Budget for Drugs Is Helpful, but Education Is Critical

"A clue to the changing nature of the AIDS epidemic is evident in Gov. Gray Davis' proposed state budget for the 2002-03 fiscal years. Despite the revenue shortfalls the state faces, the budget calls for a substantial increase in spending for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.

"State money and a federal match will bring to $184.5 million the total available to help uninsured California AIDS patients buy medications -- almost double the amount when the program began five years ago. For the roughly 26,000 people the program will help, this is great news. . . . But the disease is sill fatal, and the new therapies don't work for all. Meanwhile, the wily virus is mutating into drug-resistant strains faster than science can keep up.

"Prevention and education are still essential. But on that score, Davis' proposed budget is flat. He calls for $36 million for education and prevention and $10 million for HIV counseling and testing next fiscal year, same as this year.

". . . A study released this month by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that physicians fail to offer HIV tests to about 40 percent of pregnant women, despite federal guidelines calling on them to offer the test to all pregnant women. The same study notes that about a third of HIV-positive Americans don't even know they're infected.

"Battling pressure from conservative groups, parents and educators should insist that schools offer comprehensive sex education courses; local governments should create needle-exchange programs, which have been demonstrated to reduce HIV transmission without increasing drug use; and churches and ethnically oriented social groups should reach out to high-risk populations.

". . . It's good that federal and state governments are helping to pick up the tab for the expensive drugs that prolong life. The rest of society must pitch in to reduce the number of people who end up needing those drugs."

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