This is not an easy or comfortable subject to talk about. AIDS brings much suffering to those who have the disease, and to those who love the victims of this dreaded epidemic. Together, we can prevent the spread of this pandemic – through awareness, care, prevention, education and research. Although just the thought of catching AIDS brings about fear, many are not even aware of the consequences, and know very little about it. People are afraid to talk about it, so they like to pretend it doesn’t exist if it doesn’t affect them personally. This is a dangerous way to think, as it affects us all, and educating ourself and our loved ones is more important than most people realize.

HIV/AIDS has been a global epidemic for more than 27 years. Most of today’s youth have never known a world without it. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published national HIV incidence (new infections) that showed much higher numbers than previous estimates. Being aware of the risks and dangers are just the first step in prevention of this deadly disease.

There are several ways to spread the word, and learn how best to educate ourselves and our young teenagers, as well as support groups to cope with the disease as well as for those who have suffered the loss of friends and family. You can visit the AIDS.GOV Blog to learn more about activities, and ways that you can participate and help raise awareness.

You can also join Bloggers Unite and either blog about this and other humanitarian efforts, or place a badge on your own site. Here you will also find many resources and links to AIDS awareness and help sites.

You may also like to visit Learn the Link to see some examples of how drug use and abuse can lead to unwise choices, and how it affects our ability to make good decisions. Learn the link between drug abuse and the spread of HIV in the United States. Here you can connect with those who have been affected by AIDS, and wish to offer support to others in similar situations. You are never alone, and if you are a teen, young adult, or even older adult, it is good to know there are others willing to reach out to help you.

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