Today’s youth are really not that much different to those of previous generations – many of them think they’re bulletproof.
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Many of today’s teens and young adults – just like their parents and their parents before them – have an “it won’t happen to me” attitude when it comes to high-risk lifestyle choices, including sex.
Throw in a mix of drugs and alcohol and their ability to make their right choices are greatly diminished.
And with diseases such as chlamydia and HIV AIDS a growing concern here in Maitland and the Hunter region, there is cause for concern.
This week Hunter New England Health nurse manager, immunology and infectious diseases Glenda Entwisle warned that young people have the highest risk of sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia.
“Chlamydia is often known as a silent infection because approximately 50 per cent of men and 75 per cent of women have no symptoms,” Ms Entwisle warned.
“If left untreated, chlamydia can cause pain, infertility and place people at greater risk of contracting other STIs including HIV.”
Those as scary statistics, especially among young people who choose to have unprotected sex.
As you can see, the risks are great because many people are unaware they have already been infected with the disease.
That’s why it’s pleasing to see that a new free clinic to combat sexually transmitted infections has opened in Maitland – the first of its kinds in the Hunter.
The weekly outreach clinic is aimed at 12- to 25-year-olds and will operate every Monday from noon to 5pm at headspace Maitland.