The 1980's were a period of transition for everyone. Modification was underway; fashion, music and cultures were changing. While the world was adapting to all those changes a deadly disease crept in almost unnoticed by the public. The new disease was given the name Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). No one would have ever thought that the new disease that started out so small would, in a short period of time, grow to be so large and devastating. "Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an infectious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV... AIDS is the advanced form of infection with the HIV virus, which may not cause disease for a long period after the initial exposure (latency). No vaccine is currently available to prevent HIV infection" (Frey 59). AIDS "is already the fourth biggest cause of death in the world" (Aid for AIDS). The number of people infected is steadily increasing with 15,000 adults between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four contracting the disease daily; adding to the thirty-four million people currently infected (Aid for AIDS). "It is estimated that on-half of all n
Young adults and teenagers know the risk they are taking when they engage in sexual relations with another person, but do not believe that they can contract AIDS nor do they think that their partner would have AIDS. In a way, society portrays AIDS carriers as prostitutes, drug dealers and/or homosexuals, which is false. People of all races and genders are and can carry the disease. Typically people do not question their partner's health or sexual history because they feel that they have met their personal standards of looking healthy or because they are just embarrassed. AIDS id somewhat of a silent killer; the carrier often looks perfectly healthy. A person could have the virus for several years and never know, but during those years of not knowing the infected person could have infected a numerous amount of people. People living with the disease have the option of never telling others of his or her health condition.
ew infections in the United States occur among people younger than 25, most of whom are infected through sexual behavior"(Butler and Cooper). Since the disease first surfaced some twenty years ago, it has
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