Agenda - Council - 05/28/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A I D In preparing this report, I consulted with the best medical and scientific experts this country can offer. I met with leaders of organizations concerned with health, education, and other aspects of our society to gain their views of the problems assodated with AIDS. The information in this report is current and timely. This report was written personally by me to provide the necessary understanding of AIDS. The wast majority of Americans are against illicit drugs. As a health officer I am opposed to the use of illicit drugs. As a practicing physician for more than forty years, I have seen the devastation that follows the use of illicit drugs-- addiction, poor health, fam- ily disruption, emotional disturbances and death. I applaud the President's initiative to rid this nation of the curse of illicit drug use and addiction. The success of his initiative is critical to the health of the American people and will also help reduce the number of persons exposed to theAIDS virus. Some Americans have difficulties in dealing with the subjects of sex, sexual practices, and alternate lifestyles. Many Americans are opposed to homo- sexuality, promiscuity of any kind, and prostitution. This report must deal with all of these issues, but does so with the intent that information and educa- tion can change indMdual behavior, since this is the primary way to stop the epidemic of AIDS. This report deals with the positive and negative conse- quences of activities and behaviors fi.om a health and medical point of view. Adolescents and pre-adolescents are those whose behavior we wish to especially influence because of their vulnerability when they are exploring their own sexuality (heterosexual and homosexual) and perhaps experimenting with drags. Teenagers often consider themselves immortal, and these young people may be putting themselves at great risk. A I D S Education about AIDS should start in early ele- mentary school and at home so that children can grow up knowing the behavior to avoid to protect themselves fi.om exposure to the AIDS virus. The threat of AIDS can provide an opportunity for par- ents to instill in their children their own mom/and ethical standards. Those of us who are parents, educators and com- munity leaders, indeed all adults, cannot disregard this responsibility to educate our young. The need is critical and the price of neglect is high. The lives of our young people depend on our fulfilling our responsibility. AIDS is an infectious disease. It is contagious, but it cannot be spread in the same manner as a common cold or measles or chicken pox. It is con- tagious in the same way that sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis and gonorrhea, are conta- gious. AIDS can also be spread through the sharing of intravenous drug needles and syringes used for injecting illicit drugs. AIDS is notspread by common everyday contact but by sexual contact (penis-vagina, penis-rectum, mouth-rectum, mouth-vagina, mouth-penis). Yet there is great misunderstanding resulting in unfounded fear that AIDS can be spread by casual, non-sexual contact. The first cases of AIDS were reported in this country in 1981. We would know by now ifAIDS were passed by casual, non-sexual contact Today those practicing high risk behavior who become infected with the AIDS virus are found mainly among homosexual and bisexual men and male and female intravenous drug users. Heterosexual trans. mission is expected to account for an increasing proportion of those who become infected with the AIDS vires in the future.