The state health department released some information on sexually transmitted diseases in South Dakota, and the news isn’t good. There’s been a jump in cases. Although not directly linked to drug or alcohol use, STD rates are typically higher in populations where risky behavior is more acceptable. For instance, in young people who are experimenting or among IV drug users (for HIV in particular).
Gonorrhea is up 60% over the running five year average. Along with Chlamydia (up 18%) this STD is more prevalent in females because there are more places for the bacteria to grow. Typically in men, the infection only inhabits the urinary tract which is flushed regularly by urine. In women, the infections can remain concealed and inhabit the upper areas of the vagina.
The majority of cases occur in patients between 15 and 24 years of age. It is estimated that one in four teenage girls have an STD nationwide with the percentages rising to 40% for those who report having sex.
Other disturbing statistics include the rise of HIV cases in South Dakota last year. There were 35 new cases, up from the average of 25. IV drug use is the third leading cause of HIV transmission (following male to male sexual relations and heterosexual intercourse).
Also noted was the high percentage of Indians who are getting STDs compared with their percentage of the population in the state. Native Americans make up 9 percent of the population but 43 percent of the Chlamydia infections. Also overrepresented were African Americans (1% of the population) with 24% of the state’s current HIV patients in this group. Currently, there are 400 known cases of HIV in South Dakota.
The picture isn’t simple and the answers are not clear. Certainly encouraging condom use and monogamy has a role, but so does reaching out to our IV drug using community. This isn’t a matter of playing soft on drug abuse; it’s a matter of disease prevention. Addicts who get HIV though shared needles are less likely to get diagnosed and seek treatment because they worry about getting caught for their drug habit. They then pass the disease on to through their other relationships.
