Any talk about sex must include a discussion about alcohol and other drugs.

Drugs like alcohol and marijuana can cloud your judgement. They can:

•  make it harder to say "no"

•  make it hard to think clearly and know right from wrong

•  make you forget what is important

•  make you falsely believe nothing bad can happen to you

•  make you do things you may wish you never did

Did You Know?

•  When people use alcohol, they take risks they wouldn't normally take. They have poor judgment and less control over their actions.

•  People who begin drinking before age 15 have four times the risk of developing an alcohol addiction compared with those who begin drinking at age 21.

•  The more someone is involved in drinking, the more likely they are to have had intercourse.

- Of 14-15 year olds who report regular use of alcohol, 66% have had intercourse.
- Of those who report no use of alcohol, 26% have had intercourse.

Sexual Assault Statistics

•  More than 75% of college students who experience unwanted intercourse are under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident.

•  Sixty percent of college women who have acquired sexually transmitted diseases (including AIDS) were under the influence of alcohol at the time they had intercourse.

Alcohol and Sexual Assault

•  More than half of all rapists know their victim.

•  One out of three rapes occur on a date.

•  Often the rapist, the victim or both have been drinking.

•  Alcohol can:

- lower self control
- cause more aggressive actions
- make victims less alert to danger signals
- cause victims to be alone with someone in a risky situation and less able to defend themselves

•  Although women feel less sexually inhibited by drinking, sexual dysfunction is often linked to alcohol abuse.

Risk Reduction

•  Don't let anyone talk you into drinking.

•  Notice if friends, especially your driver, are or have been drinking.

•  Don't get into close, private situations with someone who has been drinking.

•  Don't let a friend who has been drinking go off alone with someone.

•  Always have an "escape plan" in case your driver has been drinking.

•  The less you drink, the more you will be aware of everyone else, your driver, your friend - and even someone you don't know who could hurt you.

Ways to Avoid Date Pressure

Adapted From the American Social Health Association

•  Hang out with friends who also believe that it's OK not to drink or have sex.

•  Date several people and hang out with different groups of people.

•  Go out with a group of friends rather than only your date.

•  Introduce your friends to your parents.

•  Invite your friends to your home.

•  Always carry money for a telephone call or cab in case you feel uncomfortable.

•  Stick up for your friends if they are being pressured to drink or have sex.

•  Think of what you would say in advance in case someone tries to pressure you to drink or have sex.

•  Be ready to call your mom, dad or a friend to pick you up if you need to leave a date.

•  Never feel obligated to "pay someone back" with sex in return for an expensive date or gift.

•  Say "no" like you mean it.

Mary Lee O'Connell, CRNP