The CDC released a new report yesterday detailing the rising rates of STDs-especially among women, minorities and young people aged 18-24. The report discusses how much of the recent progress being made to eliminate syphilis has been reversed. Furthermore, the report highlights how STDs cost the U.S. health care system as much as $15.3 billion dollars annually.
Years of abstinence only education have no doubt led to this record breaking rise in STD rates by promoting ignorance as a national policy.
Dr. John Douglas, Director of the CDC's Division on STD Prevention hits the nail in the head of this problem-namely, that society itself is not being responsible enough when it comes to discussing sexual health....doctors often choose not to discuss STDs and sexual health with their patients, clergy fail to address sexual health, teachers are gagged from speaking about it due to dangerous abstinence policies....and parents often think everyone else is handling it so they don't have to or want to.
America needs to talk about sex. All of us, not some of us because we are each responsible for ourselves and others.
One fantastic way to talk about sex and learn realistic strategies for decreasing STD and HIV rates among youth is to attend ISIS's annual Sex::Tech: Focus on Youth Conference.
This is the only conference in the U.S. specifically focused on young people and the internet and new media and ways of increasing sexual literacy and decreasing STDs/HIV. Mark your calendars!
Find ways to talk about sex everyday. Encourage others to do so too. Our collective health (and economy) depend on it.
