LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Fitness at the Beach: AIDS in Delaware |
by Rick Moore |
This is not your typical health and fitness column. Some of the statistics and issues related to AIDS in Delaware you may find shocking. I lived through the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, the so-called "gay plague" of the early 80s, and along the way, attended too many funerals to count. Youd think the prevention message would have gotten across by now, but Im appalled to see that society has actually let its guard down. I can remember back in the mid 80s, when all my friends were making phone calls to each other about the new miracle cure that was just on the evening news. That miracle cure was a pill called AZT. Back then, it was the only drug that was approved for treating HIV. With the advent of new drugs, people are living longer, but there is still no cure. Its important not to fool ourselves into believing that AIDS has evolved into some chronic, manageable disease like diabetes, because it hasnt yet. Hopefully that goal will be attained, but in the mean time, its more important than ever to prevent yourself from getting infected with HIV. According to the Delaware Division of Public Health, our state now ranks 8th among all states in the rate of AIDS cases among its population. There are 29.9 cases per 100,000 people. I find it surprising no, shocking that a state as small as Delaware can beat out states like California and Texas for this dubious ranking, especially since were the second smallest state in the nation in terms of area. At least Delaware isnt number one in AIDS cases. Washington, D.C. tops them all, with a whopping 204.6 cases per 100,000 people. Its followed by New York, 66.5; Florida, 39.0; Connecticut, 37.1; Maryland, 34.9; New Jersey, 34.3; and Nevada, 33.8. Most of us dont even think about HIV anymore. Weve become used to it over the past nearly 20 years. While my generation grew up with AIDS, todays youth seem to ignore it. MTV did a study with Yale University to determine young peoples attitudes toward sex, health, and AIDS. The results nearly knocked me out of my chair. The 12 to 34 year olds attitudes were completely out of whack with their actual behavior. 90% said they arent doing anything that puts them at risk for AIDS, but only 53% actually used a condom the last time they had sex. 45% said they engaged in sex one or more times without using a condom at all! Now, lets do the math. 45% is almost half. Thats a big gamble, and its easy to lose. I guess what shocked me the most was the finding that 87% believe theyre "invulnerable" to contracting AIDS, even though 20% know someone who died of it. Unfortunately, AIDS isnt the only sexually-transmitted disease spread by these risky behaviors. Herpes simplex II, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are rampant, with nearly 5,000 cases reported yearly in Delaware. According to the Division of Public Health, the "hot spots" for gonorrhea include Wilmington, Dover, Bridgeville, Seaford, Laurel, and Delmar. Together, these cities and towns account for 65% of the cases. Health authorities say that the risk of HIV transmission is two to five times higher if you have one of these other diseases, because genital sores and breaks in the skin help HIV enter the bloodstream more easily. Recently, the U.S. government has cut back on many AIDS programs to save money, which sends the wrong signal to the general population. They interpret that as meaning "AIDS is under control," and that they can chill out. Wrong. Add to this the fact that many young people are denied access to education about safe sex skills, usually because adults in power believe education will encourage sex. A resurgence in right-wing propaganda seems to have had an effect, not only to bash gays, but to make sure no one gay or straight learns about safe sex. They can preach abstinence all they want, but people are still going to have sex. Its their nature. Good-quality sex education actually helps delay teenage sex and leads to lower levels of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, according to a newly-published U.N. report. You can educate yourself and encourage others to learn more about AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases by taking a course in "AIDS 101." Its offered by the Sussex County Aids Committee, and you can reach them at 302- 644-1090. Classes are taught by an educator certified in AIDS. You can also call the CAMPsafe program, 302-227-5620, or the nationwide AIDS hotline, 800 332-AIDS. You can have free, anonymous HIV testing done every Thursday from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the SCAC office, 107 South St. in Rehoboth Beach. No appointment is necessary. OK, Delaware, now lets all do our part to go from 8th in the national rankings to 50th. (A special thanks for obtaining these statistics goes to Jim Dickinson, Health Program Coordinator with the Division of Public Health; and to Hank Barczak, former president of SCAC.) Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by the American Fitness Professionals & Associates. He believes in common-sense, drug-free training. Visit him at Ricks Fitness & Health, Inc., in beautiful downtown Milton. Check out his website at http://www.enrapt.com/ricksfitness, or give him a call at (302) 684-3669. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 8, No. 6, June 5, 1998. |