Point out that as of December 1993, more than 361,000 Americans have AIDS and that nearly 68,000 of them are between the ages of 20 and 29. A significant number of these people would have been infected when they were teenagers. Explain how HIV is transmitted from one person to another. Explain how to reduce the risk for HIV infection from sex. Explain how HIV is transmitted through drug use.
Many teenagers are sexually active.
Avoiding sexual intercourse is one sure way to avoid infection with the virus. You may want to bear in mind that the idea of delaying sexual intercourse conflicts with the many sexual messages young people encounter every day on television, in movies, at school, and from friends. Many young people conclude that everyone is doing it. By discussing the benefits of delaying sexual intercourse, you can help a young person make a wise and informed decision about when to become sexually active. The longer sexual intercourse is delayed, the longer the guarantee of one s safety from all sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection.