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Adolescent substance use is also associated with sexual risk behaviors that put young people at risk for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pregnancy. To address these issues, more needs to be done to lessen risks and increase protective factors for youth. According to the Surgeon General’s Report Facing Addiction in America, the misuse of substances such as alcohol and drugs is a growing problem in the United States. Although substance misuse can occur at any age, the adolescent years are particularly critical at-risk periods. Research shows that the majority of adults who meet the criteria for having a substance use disorder started using substances during their youth.
What We Know
Studies conducted among adolescents have identified an association between substance use and sexual risk behaviors such as ever having sex, having multiple sex partners, not using a condom, and pregnancy before the age of 15 years of age.
Researchers have found that as the frequency of substance use increases, the likelihood of sex and the number of sex partners also increases. In addition, studies show that sexual risk behaviors increase in adolescents who use alcohol, and are highest among students who use marijuana, cocaine, prescription drugs (such as sedatives, opioids, and stimulants), and other illicit drugs. Adolescents who reported no substance use are the least likely to engage in sexual risk-taking.
Fast Facts
Of the students who are currently sexually active:
- 19% drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse.
- 29% of high school students are currently sexually active.
- 40% of high school students have ever had intercourse.
Risk Factors and Prevention Activities
Substance use and sexual risk behaviors share some common underlying factors that may predispose youth to these behaviors. Because substance use clusters with other risk behaviors, it is important to learn whether precursors can be determined early to help identify youth who are most at risk. Primary prevention approaches that are most effective are those that address common risk factors. Prevention programs for substance use and sexual risk behaviors should include a focus on individuals, peers, families, schools, and communities. When students’ school environments are supportive and their parents are engaged in their lives, they are less likely to use alcohol and drugs and engage in sexual behaviors that put them at risk for HIV, STDs, or pregnancy.
Substance use is associated with behaviors that put youth at risk for HIV, STDs, and pregnancy
Common risk factors for substance use and sexual risk behaviors include:
- Extreme economic deprivation (poverty, over-crowding)
- Family history of the problem behavior, family conflict, and family management problems
- Favorable parental attitudes towards the problem behavior and/or parental involvement in the problem behavior
- Lack of positive parent engagement
- Association with substance using peers
- Alienation and rebelliousness
- Lack of school connectedness
For primary prevention activities targeting substance use and sexual risk behaviors to be effective, they should include:
- School-based programs that promote social and emotional competence
- Peer-led drug and alcohol resistance programs
- Parenting skills training
- Parent engagement
- Family support programs
What are we doing at Coalition Rx
We offer an evidence-based age appropriate program called Too Good for Drugs that teaches life skills that promote social and emotional competence. By teaching school age kids life skills that provide foundation for setting goals, identifying and dealing with emotions, and building relationships with others, we strive to provide the hope that helps them resist the temptation of substance use, misuse, and abuse. This also helps boost their self-esteem and teaches them the ability to stop and think through the consequences of their actions in the hope that they will make good choices regarding substance use and their general health and wellness - which can also include sexual risk behaviors.
We encourage parents to engage in these sessions as we teach our youth these skills. Parents come from all types of experiences where they may have risk factors as well and may or may not have made good choices regarding risky behaviors in their past. Taking the life skill steps we teach with their students not only can help them make healthy choices, but it can help them connect with their kids to both understand and parent through common issues that kids and teenagers face today.
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