SouthFlorida.com | Teen Link South Florida

There are many problems that can plague teenagers — unruly acne, massive amounts of homework, family issues and boyfriend/girlfriend troubles.

The list seems endless, so we use any excuse we can to not deal with certain issues.

But avoiding your health? Well, there are greater repercussions for that — colds, infections and, in extreme (but increasingly common) cases, AIDS.

Statistics show teens are not taking HIV and AIDS as seriously as they need to.

AIDS is labeled as "mostly a problem for homosexual males, African-Americans and women" by 87 percent of high schoolers surveyed by Weekly Reader Research.

The study noted that even with federal government approved mandatory AIDS education in schools, 4 percent of high schoolers still think the virus cannot be transmitted via sexual intercourse.

"I have had two relatives die of AIDS. I think that the problem is that we aren't taught about it enough in schools," Nova High senior Michelle Ferguson said. "We focus more on preventing childbirth than we do on the truth behind HIV and AIDS. I'm pretty sure there are people out there that don't even know the difference."

AIDS education for teens needs to be comprehensive — merely skimming the surface on a topic as serious as AIDS will not cut it.

And while watching the movie Rent and singing along to the soundtrack is entertaining (AZT break, anyone?), it is far from educational.

Part of the reason for teens' lack of concern about transmission of HIV is our lack of awareness.

HIV has infected 40 million people worldwide, according to worldaidsday.org, but young people seem to be in the dark. It's as if we have labeled ourselves immune from this disease, when in fact we are just as "at risk" as the rest of the population.

Just because stereotypes about who gets AIDS pervade our popular culture does not mean we should believe them.

To help spread awareness, there are numerous organizations and even a nationally recognized day, World AIDS Day (Dec. 1).

"There are so many ways to get involved," Nova High junior Ryan Pereira said. "Last year at my school, they sold red bags for World AIDS Day. Any little thing can help."

World AIDS Day — whose Web site displays the slogan "Let's Get Talking" — is designed to get people actively involved in AIDS education and prevention. It encourages people to fund raise, campaign, donate money or just wear the red ribbon, all with the intention of stirring up conversation.

Talking about it is an important first step, as one in three people with HIV go undiagnosed, according to www.worldaidsday.org.

So don't be unaware.

Get involved. Educate yourself. Use protection.

Your future is in your hands.