Sex, Drugs and Alcohol
Lots of young people have sex after drinking and thereby take risks they later wish they hadn't. Not being entirely in control of yourself in a situation can have serious consequences – you may become more susceptible to manipulation or even physical coercion, you may disregard using protection (resulting in an STI or unwanted pregnancy) or you might do things you wouldn’t have done if you were sober.
One in five girls aged 14-15 have reported going further than they were comfortable with during sex after drinking alcohol.
Click here if you are worried about your or a friend’s alcohol or drug consumption.
Click here if you think you might have been a victim of sexual assault (in any circumstance).
- Make sure you keep an eye on your drink at all times and never leave it unattended. People of both genders have had their drinks ‘spiked’ (or had something put in without their knowledge), leading to partial or full loss of consciousness, making the victim much more vulnerable to sexual assault. If you are out and start feeling suddenly light-headed or ill, make sure you find and stay with a trusted friend or a member of law enforcement. Remember to call 999 if you find yourself in immediate danger.
- Drink responsibly! Everyone has a slightly different tolerance to alcohol, be careful to never exceed yours. If you, like most people, are not entirely sure how tolerant you are, stick to the government guidelines you can find here.
- Drink plenty of water! For both alcohol and most drugs, being hydrated is of utmost importance. Make sure to always have a bottle of water with you.
- If you are going to take drugs… just don’t! It is illegal and can have serious consequences on your health and/or mental wellbeing. If you insist – make sure you are surrounded by people you know you can trust and that you know what you are taking (as much as possible) – a lot of drugs have been diluted or mixed with chemicals to make them more profitable, which can be very dangerous.
- Always carry condoms with you. It is not always easy to negotiate condom use when under the influence, but at having them readily available may make the conversation easier to have.
