In 1998, more than 8500 children worldwide were infected with AIDS each day. Officials are particularly concerned about the rate of transmission in the 10-14 age group. Know Studies show most kids understand how AIDS is transmitted and how to avoid infection, but they don t believe it will happen to them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that many kids are engaging in high-risk behavior which makes them vulnerable to AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. According to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drugs, sexual behavior among teens is often linked to drug and alcohol use.
Many kids report using alcohol or drugs when they have sex.
One in 62 kids reports having injected an illegal drug. Transmission of HIV also occurs among kids who trade sex for non-injected drugs like crack. AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death among women age 25 and 44. Many of those women were infected in their teens. It s not like a judgement.