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Sex and Alcohol: Some Sobering Thoughts
by Ashley Rondini, 10.18.01
As a teenager, you'll face tough choices about drinking, as well as tough choices about having sex. No matter what choices you make about one or the other activity individually, there are some things about the relationship between sex and alcohol that are important for everyone to know.
Plain and simple, alcohol alters your ability to think clearly. When you drink, at some point you will begin to see the world through "beer goggles" — you likely will become less picky about selecting whom you hook up with, how you go about having sexual experiences, and when you have sex with someone. A study conducted in Great Britain revealed that:
After drinking alcohol, one in seven 16-to-24-year-olds have had unprotected sex, while one in five have had sex that they regretted. One in 10 have been unable to remember if they had sex the night before. Mixing sex with alcohol or other drugs increases the chances of unintended pregnancy and exposure to sexually transmitted infections. This is because if you have sex when you are drunk or high, you are much less likely to be thinking clearly enough to use condoms, or use them correctly.
One study has shown that 60 percent of young adult women who are infected with a sexually transmitted infection report that they were under the influence of alcohol at the time that they had sex with the infected person.
The issue of sexual assault may be one of the most well-known dangers involved in mixing alcohol and sex. The most important aspect of this topic to understand is actually a very basic point: NO ONE EVER "ASKS" OR "DESERVES" TO BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.
It's actually against the law to have sexual contact with a person who is incapacitated due to the use of drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications. Incapacitated is another way to say "really out of it," as in a situation where someone has passed out, or is just too drunk or high to think clearly. Making the choice to use alcohol or other drugs does not mean that you forfeit the sexual decision-making rights to your body.
So, what can you and your friends do to minimize your risks?
1) USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! Don't go to parties by yourself if you know that alcohol is going to be served. Make sure one of your friends is designated to stay sober for the night. Whether or not you are driving to where you are going, it's a good idea to make sure that at least one person that you trust will be thinking clearly all night.
2) WATCH YOUR DRINKS! If you are going to put your drink down, only leave it with someone you know very well who you can trust to baby-sit for it reliably. Don't ever leave drinks unattended, and don't take drinks from people that you don't know.
3) TALK ABOUT DECISION-MAKING WHILE YOU ARE SOBER! If you are going to be partying with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or even just someone you may hook up with, talk about what boundaries feel comfortable for both of you before you start drinking.
If you are uncomfortable doing something when you are sober, your body and mind are probably giving you messages about who is a safe person to share your experiences with, how to best protect your health, and when to make decisions that you are truly ready for. Don't let alcohol or drugs change your mind. |
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