Correlation Between Alcohol And Risky Behavior

Running head: CORRELATION BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND RISKY BEHAVIOR 1

Correlation between Alcohol and Risky Behavior

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CORRELATION BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND RISKY BEHAVIOR 2

Introduction

Alcohol abuse has been associated with risky behavior not only among youths and teens

but also older individuals. Numerous researches that have successfully established that

intoxicated individuals are likely to engage in risky behavior. The studies focused on various

behaviors such as tendency to have unprotected sex and contemplating suicide among others.

Though there are psychiatric disorders that may make individuals engage in risky behaviors such

as sexual risk taking and contemplating suicide, alcohol abuse also contributes to the tendency.

In various countries such as the US, alcohol is being abused even by teens despite the stipulated

legal drinking age being 21 years. Individuals dependent on the substance are more likely to

engage in risky behaviors.

Discussion

Alcohol use may influence high risk sexual behavior (Stein, Debra, Trisvan, Pirraglia,

Engler & Anderson, 2005). According to a study carried out in 2005, it was found out that alcohol

use is associated with unprotected sexual relations among populations (Stein et al., 2005). The

researchers aimed at addressing the following research question, “Is alcohol use associated with

high-risk sexual behaviors among HIV-seropositive individuals?” Data collection utilized cross-

sectional interviews, an approach that has higher credibility than use of questionnaires. However,

it was unethical for the researchers to gather confidential information without informed consent

from the participants. After involving respondents who were HIV-infected from nearly all the

major races, it was found out that over two thirds of the participants were sexually active and

normally engaged in unsafe sex. It was also established that over three thirds of the respondents

engaged in risky behaviors after taking alcohol. The results indicated that alcohol abuse led to

CORRELATION BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND RISKY BEHAVIOR 3

unsafe sexual activities among the respondents. The study contributed highly to our

understanding of human sexual behavior through the establishment that alcohol at all levels of

use, is associated with increased sexual risk taking.

It is important to note that it has already been determined that under the influence of

alcohol humans tend to be more sexually active. The study showed that over two thirds of the

participants engaged in sexual activities after they were intoxicated. There is currently no any

scientific basis to support this view but empirical studies have supported it. When intoxicated,

individuals are unlikely to make rational decisions and hence may engage in unprotected sexual

activities. Essentially, unprotected sexual activities are majorly as a result of intoxication.

On the other hand, alcohol abuse is also associated with planning, contemplating and

attempting suicide (Pompili, Serafini, Innamorati, Dominici, Ferracuti, Serra, . . . Tatareli, 2010).

Attempting suicide is a criminal offence which has landed many people in jail. Suicide is an

escalating public health problem where alcohol abuse is perceived as a precipitating factor.

When users are intoxicated, they experience disinhibition, impulsiveness and impaired judgment

(Pompili et al., 2010). More so, alcohol enables individuals to ease the distress that comes with

attempting an act of suicide. However, it is worth pointing out that there are psychiatric disorders

such as psychosis, anxiety disorders and susceptibility to stress that tend to increase the risk of

committing suicide. Though alcohol abuse is associated with suicidal behavior, there are other

factors that may also contribute to it.

Persons with alcohol dependence or depression also tend to show suicidal behavior when

under the influence of the substance (Pompili et al., 2010). Notably, the estimated global rates of

suicide stand at 1 million deaths every year. In regions where its consumption rate is higher such

CORRELATION BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND RISKY BEHAVIOR 4

as the US, suicide rates are also higher at 14.5 suicides per 100, 000 individuals compared to

world’s average currently at 11 per 100, 000 individuals (Pompili et al., 2010). More so, these

regions have high numbers of teens involved in risky behaviors.

Suicidal behavior is commonly associated with alcohol abuse. There is no scientific proof

which denotes the correlation between the two despite empirical studies that have indicated it

exists. It has actually been established that most individuals who commit suicide test positive for

alcohol abuse. Additionally, the higher the rate of alcohol dependence the higher rate of suicidal

behavior (Pompili et al., 2010). Also, the behavior is higher among teens and young adults than

among older people. Hence, it is evident that there exists an association between alcohol abuse

and risky behavior that is unprotected sexual activities and suicidal behavior.

Conclusion

It is evident that there exists a correlation between alcohol abuse and risky behaviors.

Research has shown that HIV-infected individuals engaged in unprotected sexual activities when

intoxicated. Research also showed that alcohol abuse has an association with suicidal behavior.

Essentially, though all risky behaviors associated with intoxication have not been taken into

account, it is agreeable that alcohol abuse has an association with risky behaviors.

CORRELATION BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND RISKY BEHAVIOR 5

References

Pompili, M., Serafini, G., Innamorati, M., Dominici, G., Ferracuti, S., Serra, G., . . . Tatareli, R. (2010).

Suicidal Behavior and Alcohol Abuse. International Journal of Environmental Research and

Public Health, 29 (5), 1392-1431.

Stein, M., Debra, H., Trisvan, E., Pirraglia, P., Engler, P., & Anderson, B. (2005). Alcohol Use and

Sexual Risk Behavior Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Positive Persons. Alcoholism:

Clinical And Experimental Research, 7 (4), 837-841.

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