An estimated 19 million Americans will be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) this year. Half of those diagnosed will be  young people aged 15-24, and minorities, particularly African-Americans, will make up the majority.  Many STDs are easily treated, and if left untreated they can cause harmful, irreversible and costly complications such as infertility, cancer and death.

State legislators can help bring this epidemic under control through their:

• support for legislative or regulatory changes to make it easier to identify and treat those who are infected,
• support of legislation that expands Medicaid coverage to include more screening for STDs, and
• service as health champions, bringing more attention to the problem of STD infections and making sure that reducing disparities stays at the forefront of public awareness.

Publications for State Legislators:

• Disparities in Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Talking Points); (State News Article)
• HIV/AIDS & STD Prevention (Tool Kit)
• Schools and Communities Tackle Youth Sexual Risk Behaviors (Brief)
• 2009 State Legislation (January-June)

CDC:

STD Health Disparities - race, gender, age, location

Fact Sheets on STDs

The Internet and STD Center of Excellence -- Dedicated to internet-based tools to reach patients, clinicians, researchers and public health workers on STD/HIV prevention.