Aids in the United States

I. Introduction/Thesis Statement

AIDS is growing by leaps in the United States. Millions of Americans have been affected by the virus from the ages of 25 and 45. AIDS is the fifth leading cause of death among people in the United States, down from number one in 1995. To some people, AIDS is just another epidemic like the common cold and it will go away in time. The AIDS epidemic doesn't affect everyone in society the same, however, AIDS is a global epidemic and has threatened the human health and development for many years. There are many ways to prevent the spread of AIDS such as abstinence, educating our youths and adults on AIDS prevention, and political support to find a cure. There are different views on the AIDS problem. One view is the Politicians who believe that people are responsible for their own sexuality; therefore, it's their responsibility to educate themselves. Second are Christians who believe that religion acts as a deterrent to sexual activity which decreased pre-marital sex. Third are the group of Planned Parenthood and safe sex which believes that if they educate people on the use of contraceptives, it will help diminish pregnancy and the spread of AIDS.

II. AIDS in the United States

A. Age groups statistics affected by AIDS

Rob Noble (2010) A cure for AIDS http://www.avert.org/cure-for-aids.htm

B. Sex groups affected by AIDS

1. Boys (Teen, young adults, & Older)

2. Girls (Teen, young adults, & Older)

Rob Noble (2010) A cure for AIDS http://www.avert.org/cure-for-aids.htm

III. The Problem Environment & Evidence

A. Unprotected Sex

1. Promiscuous sexual activity at an early age increases one's risk of contracting an STD by 30. University Press, 1994. * Robert S. Walker. AIDS Today, Tomorrow: An Introduction to the HIV Epidemic in America. Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press

a. Assumptions-The evidence assumes that sexual activity at an early age increases the risk of contracting a sexual transmitted disease due to unprotected sex.

b. Biases-The evidence is biased because people can also contract sexual transmitted disease at any age not only those who start at an early age.

c. Strengths- Having unprotected sex will increase your risk of catching sexually contracted diseases.

d. The evidence is outdated since 1994. Statistics must be current to gather factual evidence.

B. Homosexuality and Teenagers

1. There are 12 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases among homosexual and teenagers. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 13 May 2007 http://www.criticalthinking.org/aboutCT/definingCT.cfm

a. Assumptions-It is assumed that sexually transmitted disease occur majority in homosexuals and teenagers. There are other groups that contract diseases such as prostitutes and etc.

e. Biases - There is a preconceived notion that a large percentage of homosexuals are affected by AIDS. The evidence proves that this information is incomplete because there's not enough statistical data.

f. The evidence is outdated since 2007. Statistics must be current to gather factual evidence.

C. Drug users

1. The people affected with AIDS due to drug use are fathers, sons, mothers, daughters and even babies born without any hope. The drug environment has established drug houses for drug users that are unsafe. Sharing of drug needles is one way that AIDS spreads to other drug users.

The AIDS Infonet DRUG USE AND HIV http://www.aids.org/factSheets/154-Drug-Use-and-HIV.html

a. Strengths-Drug use has affected many households, even unborn babies; however, there's not enough evidence to know the percentage that is affected.

b. Assumptions-Drug users can contract AIDS by sharing needles; however, they also prostitute their bodies to get the drugs which increases their risk of contracting AIDS. There's not enough evidence to prove that drug users prostitute their bodies.

c. Biases-Drug use in families and communities has affected the entire nation because it increases the need to get the drugs and use them in an unsafe and contaminated way.

IV. Uncertainties

A. No cure for Aids

1. Finding appropriate medications and vaccinations to reduce the spread of Aids.

2. Performing vast diagnostic testing to assist in research to identify the different strains of HIV which makes it difficult to produce one vaccine.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2007. Vol. 19. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2009:[inclusive page numbers]. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/.

B. Financial Support

1. Funding from the government may not be a priority due issues that have may need immediate funding.

Kaiser, Henry. (2008) Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic http://www.kff.org.

C. Society

1. The Aids Epidemic has affected the society. Because it takes years before HIV is detected, many are unknowingly spreading the disease; therefore, there's not a definite count of the number of people infected.

Cichocki, M. (2008). The Numbers Tell the Story of the Epidemic,