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COUNTYWIDE : AIDS Is Focus of ‘Sex, Drugs’ Seminar

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During a daylong seminar Saturday that included a session entitled “Sex, Death, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll,” 215 health care professionals gathered at a Ventura County AIDS conference to discuss ways of dealing with the deadly virus.

Although the epidemic has not reached crisis proportions here as it has in the Los Angeles area, health professionals were told at the seminar to be prepared. About 165 people in Ventura County have been diagnosed has having AIDS. In 1986, there were 16 AIDS cases in the county.

“It’s not the same as New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles,” said Chris Landon, the director of pediatric unit at the Ventura County Medical Center. “But it is here in our little country county.”

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For example, Landon said he knows of 17 children and adolescents in Ventura County who have been identified as carrying the human immunodeficiency virus that could lead to AIDS.

He told the health professionals during his “Sex, Death, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll” seminar to warn teen-agers that sexual behavior and intravenous drug use can lead to AIDS.

“When they’re at that age, they think they’re immortal,” he said.

Landon encouraged the professionals to spend time talking to their young patients about their relationships and means of preventing the spread of AIDS.

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