Summary: Half of New STD Cases From Teens and Young Adults

One out of two youth will acquire an STD before the age of 25.

• In an article written by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), a panel of national experts assessed what is known about the number of STD cases in young Americans. It also defined the economic and emotional impact of these infections. Recent estimates show that nearly half of new STD cases are among people ages 15-24, even though these youth make up only a quarter of the sexually active population. Half of new HIV infections occur among youth ages 15-24. One out of two youth will acquire an STD before the age of 25. The lifetime medical costs of STDs acquired by youth in 2000 are projected to be at least $6.5 billion. In this article, a panel of concerned young people from across the country provided a youth perspective and possible solutions to this growing epidemic. Most of all, panel members say, youth need ongoing conversations with parents, teachers, health care providers, policy makers, and other youth about sexual behaviors and subsequent risks.¹

¹Our Voices, Our Lives, Our Futures: Youth and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, School of Journalism and Mass Communication (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), February 2004, pp. 1-25.