Half of new HIV infections occur in people under the age of 25. Below is information on HIV's unique threat to adolescents and the lack of resources available to fight this threat.

• Why are adolescents at higher risk of HIV infection?
• Why aren't more people talking about this?

Adolescents are at a higher risk of HIV infection than adults for a number of reasons.

• They are often unaware of the medical resources that are available to them.
• They often refuse to admit that their circumstances warrant health care or mental health services.
• Traditional medical services are not ideally suited to their needs.

Why aren't more people talking about this?

Many people find talking about sex and drugs among adolescents very unsettling. Parents might not want to admit that their children are sexually active. Some find the vocabulary of risk behavior disturbing. Others feel that talking about risky behavior will increase the likelihood that our kids will engage in it.

However, refusing to talk about adolescents and risky behavior doesn't make problems go away. As parents, teachers, and concerned adults, it is our responsibility to try to connect to the young people in our lives. We must help them learn to live safely and responsibly.