The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times - March 06, 1994
Tracy Wilson; Times Staff Writer

"Even though I wasn't at high risk, I was still anxious to go back and be sure," the Westlake High School junior said. Thankfully, her results were negative. But hundreds of teen-agers across the nation haven't been as fortunate.

With the number of human immunodeficiency virus cases rising among youth nationwide, Sarah and other Ventura County teen-agers have committed themselves to educating young people about the risks of unprotected sex in the hopes that it might prevent some from contracting the deadly disease.

On Saturday, more than 200 Ventura County teen-agers, from one end of the county to the other, gathered at Moorpark College for a daylong conference aimed at educating youth about issues relating to acquired immune deficiency syndrome and HIV.

"This whole conference was put together by kids for kids, it's real unique in that respect," said Dale Hoffman, county coordinator of Friday Night Live, an alcohol and drug prevention program that co-sponsored the conference. "We're really trying to break down some barriers in a safe and comfortable environment."

Hoffman said the idea for the conference, which featured a series of provocative and humor-filled workshops, was sparked by an AIDS awareness seminar directed at youth in Los Angeles. Ventura County health educators and students were so impressed with the program that they organized a conference here. The first was held last year in Ventura.

The teen-agers who participated in the day said they aren't given enough AIDS education in their schools.

"There's just this overwhelming need for AIDS education," said Shannon Gulden, youth coordinator of the conference and a senior at Nordhoff High School in Ojai. "All we get at Nordhoff is what we're taught in our GSR (general state requirement) class."

Lauren Scotto, a sophomore at Thousand Oaks High School, agreed.

"The only thing I learned in health about AIDS was what it stood for," she said.

Trevor Althof, a senior at Ventura High School, said AIDS education needs to be provided outside school classrooms.

"People have to know the right ways to prevent it," he said. "Sex is the most misunderstood topic. A lot of people are interested, but the education is limited to our campuses."

Trevor, 17, attended last year's conference and said he has become involved in teaching his peers about the dangers of unprotected sex.

"I have a strong commitment," he said. "I not only learn to help others but learn how to protect myself."

Ventura County Health Services has reported only three AIDS cases among young people ages 13 to 19, which represents 1% of all Ventura County AIDS cases, said Martina Rippey, county coordinator of AIDS surveillance.

But national statistics indicate a growing number of teen-age AIDS cases, and experts warn that AIDS is spreading rapidly among adolescents.

As of September, 1991, there were a reported 751 AIDS cases among 13- to 19-year-olds in the United States, Rippey said. By September, 1993, that number had nearly doubled, with a reported 1,412 cases, Rippey said.

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In its report on AIDS in adolescents last year, the National Commission on AIDS warned that the number of cases among 13- to 19-year-olds was deceptive because AIDS can take 10 or more years to develop.

AIDS experts maintain that education is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease.

"I think (parents and school officials) are alerted, but they are reluctant to talk about it," Rippey said. "Maybe the word is not out strong enough for this generation."

The teen-agers at Moorpark College on Saturday were willing to face facts.

"I think (teen-agers) know about it, but they don't think it will happen to them," said Christine Delgado, 16, a junior at Rio Mesa High School in Oxnard. "Everybody thinks it will happen to someone else, or they're just misinformed. That's why I wanted to come here."

Veronica Daube, a 14-year-old freshman at Camarillo High School, agreed.

"I wanted to know more about the AIDS virus because I am in a community where kids are having sex," she said.

Westlake's Sarah Dixon, who works at AIDS Care in Ventura, said kids educating each other is one of the most effective ways to disseminate information about the disease.

"There's a closed-mindedness among teen-agers and I think that's holding them back from learning about AIDS," she said. "I think it's incredibly beneficial when you're involved with other peers, because not everything you learn from adults you're going to accept."

But there were three adults speaking at one of the 10 workshops Saturday who captivated the teen-agers with their words.

Doug Halter, Cam Keep and Jim Vellequette all have AIDS. Their message to Ventura County's youth was personal and passionate.

"We want to save your lives, you guys are our futures," Keep said. "I don't want anyone else to wake up with this virus."

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