A.ld.s. And Drug Abuse: No Sign In N.Z. Of Link (Press, 24 October 1986)

On 24 October 1986, Dr. Ross Bailey, a specialist from Christchurch, addressed a controversial editorial published in "The Press" on 18 October regarding the transmission of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in New Zealand. The editorial suggested that making syringes and needles more readily available to drug users would help prevent the spread of AIDS. Currently, New Zealand law restricts the sale of these items to limit access for addicts. Dr. Bailey contested the notion that intravenous drug abuse is a major vector for AIDS transmission in New Zealand, stating there is no evidence to support this assertion locally. He noted that the majority of AIDS cases in New Zealand have involved homosexual males, many of whom contracted the disease overseas before returning to the country. This observation is supported by published findings in the "New Zealand Medical Journal." In discussing the situation in Australia, Dr. Bailey provided statistics up to 19 September 1986, revealing that of the 296 reported AIDS cases (mostly in males), a significant portion were homosexual or bisexual individuals. Specifically, he highlighted that the overwhelming majority of AIDS cases in Australia were linked to homosexual activity rather than intravenous drug use. Only a small number of cases involved drug abusers not identified as homosexuals, with the remaining cases arising from blood transfusions or haemophilia. Dr. Bailey pointed out that many of the AIDS cases in Australia were concentrated in New South Wales and Victoria, with a substantial number of patients already deceased. He argued that predictions about the increase in AIDS cases in Australia had so far been inaccurate, stressing the importance of focusing on local epidemiology rather than external trends. Further, he drew a comparison with the United States, where AIDS is prevalent among heroin addicts, often impacting highly promiscuous male homosexuals involved in prostitution. He asserted that there is no definitive evidence suggesting that making syringes more accessible would alter the transmission dynamics of AIDS. Ultimately, Dr. Bailey maintained that the empirical evidence points to male homosexuals as the primary high-risk group for AIDS in Australasia, countering the editorial's implication that intravenous drug use plays a significant role in the epidemic within New Zealand.

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