As of 2010, an estimated 34 million people around the world have AIDS or are HIV positive. About 50% of those people are women, and 10% are children. In the US alone, 47,000 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2010.
Image from Avert.org
Every year, more and more people become infected.
Image from Avert.org
Why, in such a high tech time, is AIDS still rampant? Looking at the US data again, it seems that the two main causes are sexual intercourse and intravenous drug use. This is portrayed in the musical Rent. Two of the main characters, Collins and Angel, were infected after having unprotected sex with someone already infected. Mimi and Roger were infected due to sharing needles with infected people while they were addicted to heroin. Although the musical debuted in the early nineties, an estimated 15.9 million people use intravenous drugs now. However, unprotected sex still beats drug use as the main cause of HIV contraction.
In Sandpaper Fidelity #2, David finds out that he is HIV positive and that he most likely passed it to Josalee after their one-night stand. Both of them will deal with their diagnoses in completely different ways.
If you have been diagnosed or think you might be HIV positive, see your doctor. You can also find support groups in your area or online to help you cope. You are not alone.
By saving yourself money, you will still be supporting some of your favorite authors.
