"American Scene--New York City: A Beacon on Lonely Street"

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

"American Scene--New York City: A Beacon on Lonely Street"

Time (12/17/90) Vol. 136, No. 26, P. 14
Levy, Daniel S.

Abstract: Teen prostitutes in the South Bronx, one of the country's poorest areas, are nearly all drug addicts. Most have severe medical problems and many are regularly beaten by their customers. They stake out street corners, empty parks, and abandoned buildings and call them home. These homeless runaways--"throwaway youth"--largely come from broken homes or abusive parents. Planned Parenthood of New York founded Project Street Beat to patrol the neighborhoods where throwaway youth congregate and give them free medical treatment, counseling, AIDS education, sandwiches, clean clothes, bleach kits, and "dignity packs" with toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, condoms, and tampons. Since 1988, Street Beat has given out 100,000 condoms in thousands of dignity packs and made face-to-face contact with more than 1,000 teens. Street Beat people travel in a minivan to administer medical treatment, educate the kids, and test them for HIV. So far, 45 percent of those tested are positive.

901217
AD901498

Copyright © 1990 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1990. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1990. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.