Soft Smoke: AIDS in the Rural West 2000
Distributed by Fanlight Productions, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Jennie Franks and Katie Jewett
Directed by Jennie Franks
VHS, color, 28 min.
High School - Adult
Health Sciences, Sociology
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Gerald Notaro, University Librarian, Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, University of South Florida, St. PetersburgSoft Smoke: AIDS in the Rural West addresses the unique challenges of living with HIV/AIDS in a rural location. The mountains of western Colorado are facing increases in drug usage, unsafe sex, and consequently, HIV infection. The video's excellent Facilitator's Guide points out that despite the belief that AIDS is a big city disease, AIDS is actually declining in majors cities, and is on the rise in smaller towns and less populated areas. Roy relates his experiences with notifying exposed partners to all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases. All are curable but Hepatitis B, Herpes, and HIV infection. Four of those who were notified by Roy are interviewed throughout the video. All testify to greater discrimination in rural areas, due mostly to greater ignorance. Small town and county jails are just now facing the problems and enormous costs involved with housing HIV inmates. HIV testing is more costly in rural areas and there are increased concerns about privacy. Most doctors are not as knowledgeable about treatment and patients travel long distances to receive current drug therapy. Soft Smoke is required viewing for any place that thinks, "it can't happen here." Highly recommended for all collections.