j----_. - New York Civil Liberties Union

Mahopac 488
Teacher Notes on Lesson 36a
Background In this lesson students will write an article for the student newspaper
on how abstinence from illegal drug use can prevent the spread
of the AIDS virus. It correlates as well with Lessons #36b and #36c. A
prior review of these lessons and teacher notes may be helpful.
Students must recognize that intravenous drug use:
• is illegal
• puts them at risk for exposure to the AIDS virus.
Sharing needles, syringes.and works puts individuals at risk because
the AIDS virus can be transmitted by infected blood that remains
on the needles, syringes, and works and then be passed from
user to user. Having become infected with the AIDS virus, the individual
may develop ARC or AIDS.
If an individual is sharing IV drugs and is infected, he/she is probably
spreading the infection to others. Regardless of how the individual
became infected with the AIDS virus, the individual who has
been infected can spread it to others through his/her infected blood,
semen, or vaginal secretions.
In order to stop the spread of infection, the individual
to: .
would need
(
• abstain from illegal use of drugs
il get help for IV drug problems
• abstain from sharing needles and works
• abstain from sexual intercourse before marriage
• remain faithful to one's partner
• obtain an HIVantibody test
• if sexually active, always use a condom (See Appendix C.)
• if considering pregnancy, both prospective father and mother
should have the HIVantibody test.
Students should also consider the possible reasons why a person
may use drugs and what might be done to motivate a change in this
behavior. The lesson provides an opportunity to discuss other aspects
of drug use in relation to AIDS, particularly the impaired judgment
associated with drug and alcohol use. Also, alcohol has
immune-suppressant properties which could increase the risk of
disease in persons who have already been exposed to the AIDS virus.
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