United Press International - Monday, 2 October 2000
Ed Susman, UPI Science News

According to a new White House report, about 20,000 people age 13 to 24 are still being infected each year.

"It is deeply distressing that the number of young people becoming infected has remained constant year after year and that most HIV-infected American youth are not receiving adequate medical care," said Sandra Thurman, director of The White House Office of National AIDS Policy.

Thurman presented her office's new findings on AIDS in youth at a press briefing at Cross Keys High School in Atlanta. The briefing was held in conjunction with the United States Conference on AIDS. The meeting is the largest on AIDS in the United States with about 3,300 researchers, patient advocates and public policy makers in attendance.

Thurman said that in the four years since her office issued a "wake-up call" to the nation in 1996, major strides have been achieved in the treatment of people living with HIV infection, reducing AIDS death rates dramatically. The infection rates, however, remain constant.

The greatest risk appears to be to young gay men and young African-American and Hispanic women according to David C. Harvey, executive director of the AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families which worked with the White House to produce the report.

"In the four years since the first White House report on youth and HIV/AIDS, an estimated 80,000 teens and young adults have become infected with HIV in the U.S." he said. "Put simply, our teens are drowning and we've provided no lifeboats to save them."

In the new report entitled "Youth and HIV/AIDS 2000: A New American Agenda," researchers wrote: "Our best estimate is that young Americans between the ages of 13 to 24 are still contracting HIV at the rate of 2 per hour." The report said that by the time teenagers are seniors in high school, 65 percent are sexually active, and one in five has had four or more sexual partners.

Harvey told United Press International that the failure of authorities to forthrightly discuss HIV/AIDS with the children is to blame. "Politics is killing our children," he charged.

"Politics is responsible for the continuing denial about HIV/AIDS in the country. Conservative politics that make it difficult for our schools to discuss condom use or to discuss the presence of gay teenagers in schools or the sexual issues of women in minority groups. In some schools in Houston, Texas, where the AIDS rates are soaring among youth -- even mentioning condoms is prohibited."

Thurman, in response to questions at the press briefing, said that just distributing condoms would not be sufficient. Teens would have to be taught how to used them properly .

Harvey said the report paints a very realistic, but troubling picture of the scope of the HIV epidemic and its impact on our nation's youth.

"The report acknowledges that some progress has been made but it's not nearly enough," he said. "Effective prevention efforts continue to be thwarted by homophobia, lack of sensitivity to youth culture, and conservative politics that place restrictions on education programs."
001002
UP001004

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. 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, 2000. 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. .