Report: alcohol fuels multiple sex partners, STDs
By Marlene Naanes and Emily Ngo
Michelangelo Franqui learned about the dangers of binge drinking last year when he woke up with his shins aching.
“My friends had to drag me up the stairs because I was passed out,” said Franqui, a 22-year-old from Corona, Queens, who has since sworn off heavy drinking.
And so Franqui wasn’t surprised at a city health department report released yesterday detailing just how dangerous binge drinking can be for New Yorkers — particularly when it comes to sex.
According to the report, heavy drinkers in the city tend to have more sex partners and are more likely to get sexually transmitted diseases. It’s a finding that common sense has long dictated: If you drink too much, you make poor decisions, including ones in bed.
“Everyone knows that moment when you wake up and regret what you’ve done,” Franqui said. “You just look at the person next to you in bed and regret it.”
According to the report, 15 percent of adult New Yorkers binge drink — defined as having five or more drinks in one sitting — at least once a month. In fact, a binge drinker is three times more likely than a nondrinker to have two to four sex partners in the past year, according to the health survey. Binge drinking men who have sex with other men are particularly at risk, doubling their likelihood of having five or more sex partners in the past year.
“Some people think sex and alcohol mix well because alcohol lowers sexual inhibition,” said Sari Locker, sex educator who teaches adolescent psychology at Columbia University. “In reality, mixing sex and alcohol leads to irresponsible behavior.”
People who are influenced by alcohol are more likely to sleep with people they otherwise wouldn’t and use condoms incorrectly, Locker said.
Although most New York City teens don’t drink, drinking youngsters are more than twice as likely to become pregnant or get someone pregnant and even likelier than that to have multiple sex partners, the study showed. Teens who drink or use drugs before sex are also less likely to use condoms.
“With rates of syphilis rising, as well as HIV among young [men who have sex with men], it is important to look at how drinking may be contributing to the problem,” said city health commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden.
The health department suggested men limit themselves to no more than two drinks a day and women should have no more than one to avoid health risks, including HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. New Yorkers yesterday did not pledge to put down their pints, but some said pointing out the consequences of binge drinking would help.
“Just be smart about not putting yourself in the position where you end up with something you’ll never get rid of,” said Dan Vigil, 30, of Brooklyn.
Comments (3)
Yup, and not only that, but it can easily hit you with severe permanent health damage !!
Problem though, is that we're not warned about it !
Many of us are trying desperately, to somehow convince our CDN
Government, of the desperate need, to have Health Warning Labels on all liquor containers !
But, I guess their too busy enjoying all the profits they make of
liquor sales...............!
Gee, do ya think there all freaking Alcoholics themselves ???
Be really careful my friend........
This scourge of society is one of Satan's Legal Minions !
Take care !
I am amazed with it. It is a good thing for my research. Thanks
I can tell that this is not the first time you write about this topic. Why have you chosen it again?