December 1st has been declared World AIDS Day and rightly so; every case of AIDS is a tragedy! In 2001 approximately 0.5% of the population of North America was HIV positive, that’s up from 0.4% in 2001 but down from almost 0.9 in 2006. Western and Central Europe fared better at 0.2 % in all three of the surveys.
In many ways the AIDS epidemic seems to be waning with decreased death rates in all countries and fewer new cases in most countries. Scientists are offering reasons for the decrease including increased use of condoms and early testing to prevent those already infected from spreading the disease to others and better anti-viral treatment for those already infected.
These are all important parts of the solution, but the real tragedy of AIDS is that, with the exception of the very few who had been infected by contaminated blood or blood products years ago, they were all caused either by illegal IV drug use or by sexual activity. In other words, they were caused by events that were done voluntarily and could have been avoided.
AIDS is a completely avoidable and preventable disease! The CDC recommends two easy methods to avoid AIDS:
• Abstain from sexual intercourse until ready to establish
a mutually monogamous relationship within the context of marriage.
• Refrain from using or injecting illicit drugs.
The CDC also reminds us that there is no such thing as safe sex or safe IV drug use. Condoms can reduce the risk, but they can not eliminate it.
Now I know that merely saying the above will not cause all teens to avoid sexual activity, but parents are, without question, the major players in developing their kids values. Take time tonight to note, preferably at the dinner table, that Dec 1st is World AIDS Day and discuss AIDS with your kids. You won’t have to warn them that illicit sex causes AIDS, they know that and will tell you by the end of the discussion, but your talking about it will strengthen their value system. You should also mention AIDS when talking about celebs, or others who are know for their infidelity, and talk about the risk they have of getting aids.
Open conversation with your kids, accompanied by your example, is the best way, and probably the only way to communicate values to them. They won’t know what you are thinking unless you tell them. Tell them, and tell them often.
The above taken, in part, from “Messengers in Denim”.