Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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San Francisco Examiner - Friday, August 22, 2003
Alison Soltau, Of The Examiner Staff
Faced with the alarming news that more and more young San Franciscans are becoming addicted to methamphetamines and developing HIV while under the influence, Dufty and others want to know how best to get the prevention message across to youths.
Kids are burnt out on the whole safe-sex message, speakers said Thursday at a City Hall hearing where the vibe was at times more that of a warm support group. What is needed right now is less of the speed and sex bar culture and more genuine and drug-free community events, young speakers said.
"They have low self-esteem and they are suicidal -- we need to teach people that they are valuable enough to use those condoms," said Ned Howey, the 25-year-old programs director of Q-Force, an organization that encourages LGBT youths to volunteer in the community.
Homeless kids are having survival sex in exchange for money, drugs are rampant and often free, meth dealers aren't aloof drug lords, but integral parts of the social scene, other speakers said.
While community programs were seen as vital, speakers also blasted the San Francisco Unified School District for apparently being reluctant to embrace the "s" subject.
"We've got to take the blinkers off," Dufty said.
While San Francisco has never been shy at thrusting the safe-sex message into the spotlight in some memorable public education campaigns, the Center for Disease Control wants its prevention dollars spent on a much more conservative message, focusing more on the issue of HIV testing than latex giveaways, speakers pointed out.
Dr. Jorge Patida of the Department of Public Health said the era of the "just say no" campaign had had its day and San Francisco would have to continue to be realistic with kids who "probably have more experience with the chemistry of drugs than anyone in this room."
The City's much vaunted treatment on demand program was described as flawed by social workers, who pointed out that it often takes two to three weeks for a person to receive a drug rehabilitation program placement.
Some 3000 people under 30 are living with AIDS in San Francisco and 40 to 60 percent have a history of drug use, according to the SF AIDS Foundation.
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