According to a report published this week by a youth charity, at least one-third of under-25s have had unprotected sex when drunk, putting themselves at risk of unplanned pregnancy or contracting an STI. YouthNet surveyed 2,000 people to see what their attitudes were to sex and their sexual health, and the results were fairly alarming.
The responses indicated that alcohol consumption was frequently resulting in reckless and dangerous sexual behaviour, both in terms of catching infections and getting physically hurt. When drunk, 22% of the respondents had gone home with a stranger and 32% had had a one-night stand, which many said they regretted. A shocking 3% confessed that they lost their virginity before they were 12.
The statistics demonstrate exactly why STIs like Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea are such a big problem amongst this age group and how they are spreading so quickly. Some estimates have suggested that at least 1 in 10 of those aged under 25 have Chlamydia and the National Chlamydia Screening programme has said that the number of people getting screened for this STI must increase markedly for this infection rates to diminish.
Matt Whyman, who is YouthNet’s relationship expert, greeted the statistics with the warning that young people need to be aware of the dangers they face when they combine drink and sexual activity. “It's really important that young people take the time to learn about the reality of sex when they're sober, to help them get a real idea of what the risks are, and take steps to make sex safer."
There have also been warnings that infection rates amongst the middle-aged are causing growing concern, as an increased number of people are having multiple sexual partners later in life without using appropriate protection or finding out about their partner’s sexual history.