Hi folks,

I'm am currently indergoing a bit of research on whether there is link between substance use and stds / unwanted pregnancy. Would anyone have any thoughts on this or any recommendations of good reading? Thank you to Dr George Ryan who has already been a great support.

Hi Fiona
Welcome to the forum and well done for taking the plunge and posting.
I am far from the 'great and the good' here on this forum but i would hope and trust that some of them will reply to your post.
Personally i feel that, from experience, chaotic (or anything near) substance use will, can and more times than not affect one's judgement around personal behaviour.
When i took and to be able to take Benzos i sometimes have (and sometimes as a result) made very risky, poorly judged and bad decisions.
When i, finally, began groin injecting heroin and crack i am sure most of my other 'patterns of behavour' were equally ill judged to say the least.
After five years of not using and on a small Physeptone dose i am sure any risks i take are similiar to most 43 yr olds in the country and not leading me to stds or unwanted pregnancy (as a man i blooming hope not with the latter anyway)
So yes a link indeed i would say Fiona but maybe no more than alcohol use (misuse???) could bring to one's life, again i don't drink so ?????
Hope this is of some little help and that others come and make more sense for you as your question deserves and the more i think about it....needs an answer.
My best
TonyB
Ps If George has said anything... it's good advice. Good one Capt f.
So Fiona i suppose i would say

Hi Fiona,
I thnk the fab Rod Thompson is your man.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/aboutus/gov/fellows/browse/thompson
I heard him speak when we presented at IHRA Nurses conference. Rod presented about how many young people that went to holiday Islands like Ibiza who never used drugs previously got involved in risky sexual activity due to taking drugs on holiday.
I'm sure you'll be able to track him down.
I did have him e mail but my lap top exploded and I've lost many friends addresses.
It would be a good start anyway.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Simon Greasley,

Hi Fiona,
good to see someone from Wolves in the Forum!
The link below is to a BBC report of research into cocaine use by young people-Liverpool was one of the cities surveyed and the YP claimed a direct link between the use of cocaine and "enhancing their sex life".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7392263.stm

Policy responses usually assume a link between the two-eg. targeted youth support strategies are increasingly developing more unified approaches to working with "vulnerable young people" ie. those at risk of misusing substances and becoming pregnant. It may be worth talking to Sue Coleman in Wolves council who is leading some work on this
Tony

Perhaps stating the obvious but it is important that we do not lose sight of our "favourite drug" as we fall headlong into the festive binge.