We often get questions from people who say the same thing about sex. They say, “I’ve never used a condom and I don’t have an STD, so what’s the point?”

The point with all of this has to do with risk and luck. Having a beer or a glass of wine isn’t very high risk, as long as someone doesn’t do that and then get behind the wheel of a car. Many teens and young adults drink alcohol with the intention of getting drunk. The chance of having something bad happen increases each time you drink or use drugs (illegal or prescription). Here are some of the things that can happen:

• The immediate risks have to do with poor decision-making. You can end up having sex with someone when you didn’t plan to. You can forget to use condoms or not even think of it. You can end up in situations where someone takes advantage of the fact that you’re not making healthy decisions. Legally, no one, male or female, old or young, in a committed relationship or a one-time hook-up, can consent to sex while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Sex without consent is rape.
• You drive home or ride home with someone who’s drunk or high. The thing about being under the influence of alcohol or any other drug is that when you’re drunk or high, things don’t seem as risky. For example, you go to the party sober, knowing you shouldn’t drive home drunk. But then you start drinking and you think you’re OK to drive. How can you make that decision is your judgment is impaired?

• There’s also something called alcohol poisoning. When people drink a lot of alcohol at one time, they’re putting themselves at risk for this. Basically, your body shuts down because of how much you’ve had to drink. You may pass out or vomit a lot. Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency, not just something that someone can sleep off. Someone who has symptoms of alcohol poisoning should get medical help right away.

• There are long-term risks too that have to do with how long a person drinks or uses drugs. Alcohol and other drugs can hurt every organ in your body. Alcohol goes right into your bloodstream and can increase your risk of getting serious diseases, including some kinds of cancer.