April 2002
Alcohol, Sex, and Teens
Facts about youth and alcohol use: Alcohol use and sexual activity have become fairly common among American adolescents. National data show that almost 37% of 8th graders and 61% of high school seniors have been drunk at some point in their lives. Almost 50% of 12th grade students have used alcohol in the past 30 days and nearly a third have been drunk in the same time period.
Facts about youth and sexual activity: In 1999, almost half of teens in grades 9-12 reported ever having had sexual intercourse. The risks for sexually transmitted diseases increase as sexual activity increases. Every time a teenage girl has sex she has a 1% risk of contracting HIV, a 30% risk of contracting genital herpes, and a 50% risk of contracting gonorrhea. These facts show that condom use by young people is very important.
Facts about alcohol and sex: Several national studies show that alcohol use is linked to less condom use. Almost a quarter of sexually active young people (ages 15-24 years) reported that they had unprotected sex because they had been using alcohol or drugs at the time. The risk of unprotected sex for drinkers ranges from 2.5 to 18 times greater compared to the risk for non-drinkers.
Facts about alcohol use and sexual violence: Alcohol use is also linked with sexual violence. One in four adolescents reports sexual dating violence. Alcohol is the chief date rape drug in the U.S. Alcohol use makes youth more vulnerable to sexual violence and date rape because it affects communication and judgment, making it more difficult to detect signals from people and from the environment. This affects both the victim and the perpetrator of date rape.
Victims are less likely to detect danger and get away, and perpetrators are less likely to detect signals from a partner who does not want to have sex and are less likely to respond appropriately. Victims' reports show that 43% of rape and sexual assault offenders are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In cases of violence to an intimate partner, 75% of offenders had used alcohol or drugs at the time of the crime.
Adolescents need and deserve to know the facts related to their decisions. Almost half of adolescents (ages 15-17) stated that they would like to learn more about how alcohol and drugs might affect decisions about sex. Caring adults can equip youth with the tools to make healthy choices.
Caring Adults Affect Teen Decision Making
Parents and caring adults can make a difference in the choices that adolescents make about alcohol use and sexual behavior. In fact, adolescents want to hear more about these issues from their parents. In a recent survey of 15-to 17-year-olds, 70% of youth said they had received some or a lot of information about sexual health from their parents. Yet 33% of this same group also said that they wished their parents would share more information with them.
Alcohol use and sex are difficult topics for adults to discuss with teens. Following are some tips and resources to help parents and other caring adults talk about sexual health and alcohol use with youth.
• You don't have to be an expert. Teens don't expect you to know everything. Begin by finding out what your teen has heard. Some of their information might be correct, but some may be incorrect. Give youth a chance to share their thoughts about sex and alcohol.
When you need more information, much can be found on the web. Search the sites listed below with your youth.
• Use the media as a way to begin talking about tough issues. The media provides many opportunities for you to share your values about these issues without making a direct reference to you or your teen. Talk with youth about alcohol ads or ads that are using sexuality to sell a product.
• Ask for help from others. There are other caring adults in your community who share your values. Seek out those you trust to share information about sexual health and alcohol use with your son or daughter. No parent should face this important task alone.
• The internet can provide great information for youth. But be careful--not all information is accurate. Here are some recommended sites for youth and parents:
www.nnh.org/Weblinks/atodlk2.htm
Sources:
The Alan Guttmacher Institute, The Kaiser Family Foundation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CASA, and Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan). Full references are available from the editor.
This issue of Ups & Downs was contributed by Laurie L. Meschke, Ph.D., Good Reason Consulting, Inc.
Ups & Downs is edited by Rosalie Bakken, Ph.D., Adolescent Development Specialist, University of Nebraska.