deadly threat of AIDS, prostitution is not only thriving, it is virtually out of control.

The May issue of RG Magazine , available free with Thursday's edition of The Royal Gazette , takes a disturbing look at the problem in its cover story, `Sex For Sale'.

Senior writer Robin Zuill, who talked at length to male and female prostitutes, law enforcement officers and social workers, found a growing supply and demand for sexual services at all levels of society, despite the increasing risk of contracting the deadly HIV virus. She also found alarming evidence of children as young as 13 "on the game''.

As Bryant Richards, coordinator of Addiction Services, says: "If there wasn't the demand for this service, it wouldn't be so readily available. The bottom line is that people want to buy sex.'' This month's RG also includes an annual look at the latest wheels with the focus on the coolest new cars and vintage bikes as well as tips on how to combat the growing epidemic of bike stealing.

In other features, Althea Overbey tells the harrowing story of her recovery from a brain tumor "the size of a grapefruit''; Patricia Calnan salutes 50 years of the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society; RG previews the forthcoming 137-work Crib Art exhibition; and, to mark Nutrition Week, John Burchall talks to top US dietitian and author Barbara Dixon about her crusade to change the eating habits of black Americans.

RG this month also launches The RG Book Bag. Each month Piers Plowden will review the latest fiction and non-fiction titles -- all of which will be available by special mail order to RG readers.

And there's much more in this month's 76-page issue: Photoshoot sees double at the world's largest twins convention, Travel takes readers high at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Robin Zuill conquers the End-To-End Walk and Roger Crombie does battle with the vending machine from hell.

It's all in RG Magazine and it's available free only with tomorrow's edition of The Royal Gazette .