Chapter 10 - Influence of Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use on Sexual Behavior

Abstract

The prevalence and co-occurrence of adolescent alcohol and drug use and sexual behaviors are at disturbingly high rates. Higher levels of substance use during adolescence have been associated with an earlier sexual debut, more sexual partners, higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, and more unintended pregnancies. Furthermore, higher levels of substance use during adolescence have been associated with more dating violence, sexual coercion, and sexual assault. Whereas most sexual risk reduction intervention programs do not also target substance use reduction, a few small-scale studies with residential treatment samples have demonstrated reductions in multiple sexual risk behaviors among substance-abusing teens. Some school-based drug use prevention programs targeting general social skills competencies have also demonstrated some crossover effects in reducing risky sexual behaviors. Multi-targeted interventions that focus jointly on reducing substance use and sexual behaviors may prove better able to deter adolescent risk behaviors and promote positive health outcomes.