Sex and alcohol (and other drugs)
In this section
Some stats
In a survey of Australian high school students
28% of sexually active students reported having unwanted sex.
The reasons they gave were:
My partner thought I should:
I was too drunk:
I was frightened:
My friends thought I should:
I was too high:
Opportunities to think and plan in advance
"I was so off my face I didn't know what I was doing"
With being influenced by a partner the most common reason for unwanted sex, we can see why being drunk or affected by drugs can confuse issues even further.
Lots of people combine sex and alcohol because it lowers inhibitions and they feel more comfortable to admit to wanting to engage in sexual activities.
A frank discussion about first sexual experiences - the disappointments and the highlights - might start your child thinking about how they might like to navigate their own sexual lives.
Young people need opportunities to think about and discuss the consequences of mixing alcohol and/or other drugs and sex so they can reduce the chances of getting into situations they can’t handle.
In response to a news article on the effects of alcohol, you ask
If you were at a party and your friend was drunk, what would you do if you saw them leaving with someone they don't know very well?