Pill Aimed At Preventing HIV Infections Available In Sacramento

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A pill experts say can help prevent HIV infections is being handed out in Sacramento.

The potentially deadly disease has infected more than 1 million Americans and the number of people living with HIV has continued to increase over the last decade.

It's called Pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP and it has been proven in studies to be highly effective in keeping people HIV negative if it's taken every day.

For many who are not married with children, the steady HIV infection rate in Sacramento young people is a scary thought.

"The rates have been relatively constant which is a big frustration for everyone in the field," said Dr. Paolo Troia-Cancio with Cares Community Health, which provides the pill.

But now there's a little blue bill can greatly reduce the risk of becoming infected with the virus that causes AIDS.

A Sacramento man CBS13 will call 'Adrian' has been on PrEP for the past few months after hearing about it on Facebook through friends. The process of taking a drug called Truvada every day is almost like birth control, but it helps avoid HIV.

"Like you never know who is HIV-negative or HIV-positive; it's just another barrier or protection," he said.

While Adrian, a gay man, says he uses condoms, Troia-Cancio says despite our fears of the virus, many people of all ages don't protect themselves.

"For some individuals unfortunately the use of barriers or limiting the number of sex partners is just not working, so this gives us now another option to provide to individuals who might be at risk," he said.

Recent studies show Truvada is more than 80 percent effective in avoiding HIV, he said, but it must be taken daily. It's being targeted at high-risk groups like gay men and those with an HIV-positive partner, he says that's not all.

"I think anyone that thinks they could benefit from this, I would invite them to talk to their doctor about it," he said.

Many medical insurance plans will cover the pill to some extend. Adrian pays about $30 a month.

"I like the fact that now that I'm on PrEP, I can be a little easier, I don't have to have that constant like fear if I meet someone and something happens, the condom breaks," he said.