The media can bombard issues to the point where they have an adverse effect on people. An important message can be heard so much that people start to tune it out. Another effect can be that an issue or problem seems so far away that people think “it doesn’t affect me.”

In many cases this is what has happened with the AIDS issue. Statistics show that this issue really is a crisis situation. A study from the American Medical Association states that in the City of New York, one of every 77 women who had babies last year is infected with the virus that causes AIDS. Thus, the babies would test positive for the virus, although they would not necessarily be infected.

In the entire state of New York, one of every 150 new mothers are infected according to the study.

This is not a foreign disease in a foreign land. This is in a state in our very own country. A very serious problem is at hand, and people need to be responsible in their own personal lives. Public service announcements have done well to publicize the word regarding how AIDS can spread and how it can be avoided.

To think about that high number of women and newborn babies carrying the virus in one single state is scary for its reality. Granted, this is a state with a high percentage of intravenous drug users, which is a major contributor to the spread of the virus. However, drug use is not the only contributing factor in the situation.

AIDS is a reality. One that should concern each individual. Since sexual intercourse is the other major factor in its spread, everyone should remember to act sexually responsible, even when the media message seems overplayed.