How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid by Joseph A. Califano Jr

Author:Joseph A. Califano Jr.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Touchstone

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SUBSTANCES AND SEX: WHAT’S THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY?

Whatever your moral values or religious convictions, it is important that your children understand how drugs and alcohol are implicated in teen sexual activity.

Whether you set firm rules about abstinence or let your child determine what’s best, you should exercise your Parent Power to discuss the relationship between substance use and sex. Substance abuse can stoke impulsivity, which in turn can trigger risky sexual behavior—the results of which, including pregnancy or contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as HIV/AIDS, could change your teen’s life.

Parents hold a range of beliefs when it comes to their teens’ sexual conduct. Some think that teen sex is morally wrong: for example, according to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and evangelical Christians, sex outside of marriage is a sin. Other parents believe that their children should not have sex until they are married, or until they are in love or engaged, or until they are adults. Some parents may believe that teen sex is simply a health issue, not a moral one. Some parents preach abstinence, while others are resigned to their teenagers having intercourse so long as they practice safe sex to protect themselves against pregnancy and disease.

Whatever your personal views, you and your teen need to know that teen drinking and drug use increase the likelihood of risky sexual activity: having intercourse, having unsafe sex, having an unintended pregnancy, becoming the perpetrator or victim of sexual assault. The relationship between teen sex and substance abuse is so extensive that I believe parents cannot protect their children against the risks of either one without discussing the relationship between the two.

Whether you feel strongly that sex before marriage is wrong or you simply want your teen to postpone sex until he or she is more mature, explain your feelings to your teen. If you share the reasons behind your beliefs, your teen may be more likely to understand and adopt your values.

Mayo Clinic, “Teens and Sex: Protecting Your Teen’s Sexual Health,” August 8, 2013.

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