Social issues linked to rise in STDs

NEW YORK - Growing up in North Carolina, Charles Smith was the all-American guy. Being built, good-looking, and a good athlete, he caught the eye of many women in town.

Now, nearly 10 years after being diagnosed with full-blown AIDS, you can still hear shades of disbelief in his voice as he admits, “I never used condoms. I used to look at myself and say, ‘I am built, I am stocky, and I am indispensable.'”

The diagnosis shocked both Smith (not his real surname) and his wife, since he never thought he could be at risk.

“All I knew about HIV was it’s a gay man's disease and I definitely ain’t gay.”

Since Smith’s diagnosis, he has gone on to become a leading speaker on HIV/AIDS and drug awareness with AIDS in Minorities, a nonprofit group based in Alabama. 

Although he once thought he was not at risk, Smith says the demographics of HIV/AIDS have grown to become an inclusive disease, crossing socioeconomic backgrounds, age, race and sexual orientation.

STDs on the rise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there are more than 65 million people living with incurable STDs in the United States, and at least one in four Americans will contract an STD at some point in their lives.

Most alarmingly, there are nearly 1 million Americans currently infected with HIV/AIDS, and nearly 20 percent of them are unaware of their diagnosis. Now, African-American women are the fastest growing group of people infected with the virus in the United States.

STD FACT BOX STDs IN THE U.S. — 65 million people in the U.S. have incurable STDs — At least 1 in 4 Americans will contract an STD in their lifetime — Teenagers make up one-fourth of all new STD infections — Herpes is the most common STD in the U.S., affecting 45 million people — Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are the only vaccine treatable STDs

Recent reports show that nearly one-fourth of all STD infections occur among teenagers, with female teens having the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea. And, while the  diagnoses rates for gonorrhea and syphilis have remained steady, chlamydia infections have nearly tripled since 1990.

Treatment of STDs annually costs the United States $17 billion, and experts predict STD rates will continue to rise as long as Americans underestimate their risk levels.

Is abstinence education the answer?
In his 2006 budget, President Bush proposed a $39 million increase in federal funding for “abstinence-only-until-marriage education,” bringing its total funding to nearly $193 million annually.

Often run by faith-based organizations, abstinence-only-until-marriage education is frequently criticized for excluding information about condom usage, abortion, masturbation and sexual orientation.

“What is born out by scientific evidence is that comprehensive sexual health programs are more effective than abstinence programs. Safer sex programs delay the onset of sex behavior, reduce pregnancy rates and increase likelihood of condom use,” says Dr. Michael Carey, who runs The Center for Health and Behavior at Syracuse University. 

“Safer sex programs not only include the message that abstinence is the more effective strategy, but also talks about self-management strategies and personal skills. In contrast, a sexual abstinence program does not cover these issues,” he said.

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