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Why do some people use drugs or alcohol?

  • To relax
  • To feel good
  • To fit in
  • To feel more comfortable  around people
  • To make sex easier
     

What do drugs or alcohol have to do with sex and pregnancy?

Drugs and alcohol change the way you think and act when you use them.  When you take drugs or drink alcohol, you might make a risky decision like having sex when you don’t want to or having sex without a condom.  Because drugs and alcohol affect your thinking, some people might also take advantage of you if you are drunk or high by making you have sex or not using a condom during sex.  Basically, you are put at risk for:

  • Date rape
  • Assault/abuse
  • Unplanned pregnancy
     

What’s so bad about drugs and alcohol?

First, alcohol is illegal for anyone under 21 years of age.  Also, most kinds or drugs (not including ones prescribed from the doctor) are illegal for everyone.  If you get caught with drugs or alcohol you could get in a lot of trouble including paying a fine (money), community service, or in serious cases being put in jail.

Drugs and alcohol may feel good at first, but once the good feeling wears off you are usually left with a crash of bad feelings afterwards.  This is often called a hangover.  With many drugs you are left wanting more and more of the drug to give you that ‘high’ feeling.  Over time you may become addicted.  There are also many bad side effects from drugs and alcohol including:

Health problems like cancer, impotence (can’t get an erection), liver problems, poor health.

  • Mood swings
  • Can’t make good decisions
  • Memory loss
     

Because of all of this it is better to live a healthy life without using drugs or alcohol.  Read more answers on Sex Etc.

 

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