The world's leading health institution has announced new guidelines aimed to curb the continued rise of HIV infection around the world. The organization's decision to back HIV prevention drugs lends more support to a medicine that is misrepresented by some.

The World Health Organization (WHO) worries that the number of HIV infections around the world continue to rise and, what it considers, at-risk groups remain vulnerable to infection. According to a press release from the organization, these at-risk groups are defined as "men who have sex with men, people in prison, sex workers, users of intravenous drugs and transgender people."

Many of these people, the statement explains, are ignored from national plans around the world aimed at reducing HIV infection or are victims of discrimination.

In an attempt to reduce the numbers of infections, WHO has endorsed the use of HIV prevention drugs like Truvada for those with high risk of infection, particularly gay men.

"For the first time, WHO strongly recommends men who have sex with men consider taking antiretroviral medicines as an additional method of preventing HIV infection (pre-exposure prophylaxis) alongside the use of condoms," the statement says. It explains that HIV infection rates among gay men remain high and that, if this new initiative is followed, the organization estimates a drop of 20-25 percent in infections among gay men over the next 10 years.

WHO is not the only organization to support the use of HIV prevention drugs. The CDC approved the use of Truvada earlier this year and some gay health organizations approve of it, among them the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC).

Kelsey Louie, GMHC CEO, wrote about the need "to bring HIV prevention drugs out of the closet." He argued in favor of using drugs like Truvada, which have 90 percent effectiveness in preventing the transmission of the virus, he said.

Louie bemoans the negativity and secrecy surrounding the drug within the gay community and argued that those who use it should not be stigmatized, writing, "Others have condemned the government's decision, arguing it is a 'party drug' that will encourage more people to engage in condomless sex. And a few get nastier, dubbing users of the drug 'Truvada whores,' accusing them of immaturity, cowardice or worse."

He, like the WHO, advocates the use of the drug in hope that it will diminish HIV infection among gay men. However, the gay community continues to be divided on the topic. His "party drug" reference alludes to comments by Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

According to The Associated Press, Weinstein said, "If something comes along that's better than condoms, I'm all for it, but Truvada is not that. Let's be honest: It's a party drug."

Whether or not it's a party drug, some gay health organizations and the World Health Organization see it as a way of preventing further HIV infections.