Dr. Ava's e-Love Letter: Interview with Dr. Sharon Mitchell

Dr. Sharon Mitchell spent 25 years in the Adult Entertainment Industry as an actress, appearing in over 2000 movies, as a dancer performing in venues all over the world, and she has produced and directed over 42 movies. Today she has her PH.D., in Human Sexuality and is the founder of the AIM Healthcare Foundation in LA.

Dr. Ava : What lead you to start the Aim Healthcare Foundation?

Dr. Mitch : Before AIM there was little or no testing done. Each adult actor took it upon his or herself to get tested and ask for tests. These tests were "Elisa" tests which tests for the antibody, it can take up to 6 months for an HIV antibody to be detected in a young person. So I set up in a small room next to World Talent Modeling Agency, and started to draw blood using PCR/DNA methodology (early detection HIV test that screens for the inhibitory substance and will detect HIV 10 days after exposure) and I found 1 HIV positive female each month for the first 4 months. Eventually, I found the Male patient Zero. He was a porn actor who was knowingly and willfully spreading HIV in order to keep his job in porn. He was doing this by going to anonymous County clinics and forging results. I thought "why is this HIV diagnosis so different from Hepatitis or Cancer that folks would be so fearful to disclose their status?" I set out to make the screening for HIV and STD's nothing more than an occupational hazard that people would clearly see it as a consequence to working unprotected in porn. If indeed folks were going to continue to work without condoms, then I would create a "harm reduction" model using testing methods each month where the talent would be able to share results, and find partners for STDs immediately, get medicated and a clean bill of health before going back to work.

This system has proven to work as when I started AIM there was an STD rate of 10% in the adult industry. Now, with screening over 2000 talent members each month, it is holding at 1.8%. Even with no condoms. So there is proof that prevention education and routine screening is helpful to this population. AIM is a 501(c) 3 non - profit organization which is always in need of donations. We do serve the general public and have affiliates world wide for testing services.

Dr. Ava : How can we educate teens more effectively?

Dr. Mitch : Reform the education system in schools to get away from this moral
majority religious crap. The right wing has absolutely no place in sex education. We need to be able to communicate with teens where they are at, the issues that they are up against, using their language, and yes, distributing condoms in school as early as possible. And of course make testing and counseling available in a NON JUDGMENTAL approach. The last thing in this country that we need is more judgment especially with our teens.

Dr. Ava : Do you have any personal life regrets?

Dr. Mitch : Surprisingly not! I was a heroin addict most of my life, and did not
kick it until I left porn in 1995.I don't even regret that, as fortunately I was making enough money to stay off the street and use clean needles, I was very private, and never judged. Although between the dope and porn, believe it or not I was a loner for many years, but had a wealth of experience in both of those worlds that can be applied to the help of my clients now!