A new study says that alcohol consumption ups your chances of having unsafe sex…It’s not rocket science, but it could help clear up some misconceptions about the “kind” of people who forego condoms and spread HIV and other STDs. In the past, researchers have questioned whether it’s alcohol, or the personalities of the people drinking the alcohol, that make for irresponsible mating. But researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health say pretty much anyone who’s had more than four or five drinks is more likely to have unsafe sex.
In the study, researchers randomly assigned participants to a drinking or sober group, and asked them to rate their intention to have unprotected sex. The more alcohol they consumed, the greater their intention; at 0.1 mg/mL blood alcohol level, the likelihood of engaging in unsafe sex was up by 5%. In women, it takes the equivalent of four drinks to get there; for most men, it’s about five.
The lead study author, Dr. Jurgen Rehm, explained in a news release:
Drinking has a causal effect on the likelihood to engage in unsafe sex, and thus should be included as a major factor in preventive efforts for HIV. This result also helps explain why people at risk often show this behavior despite better knowledge: Alcohol is influencing their decision processes.
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