AEGiS-ATN: Sex and Drugs: New Government Data on U.S. Sexual Behavior, Drug Use

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Sex and Drugs: New Government Data on U.S. Sexual Behavior, Drug Use

AIDS TREATMENT NEWS - July 11, 2007
John S. James

Summary: The most accurate information available provides a reality check in this highly politicized area.

A June 28, 2007, U.S. report on sexual behavior and drug use provides a needed reality check for policy discussion on HIV prevention and other issues. For example:

96% of U.S. adults have had sex (vaginal, oral, or anal). Of those age 21-29, 91% have had sex.
Almost 16% of all adults first had sex before the age of 15 -- including 20% of those currently 20-29, vs. less than 12% of those 50-59. This question did not distinguish heterosexual from homosexual activity. Only 15% of adults abstained from sex until 21 or older.
"Twenty-nine percent of men reported having 15 or more female sexual partners in a lifetime compared with 9% of women who reported having 15 or more male sexual partners in a lifetime."
Twenty one percent of adults have tried cocaine or street drugs (NOT including marijuana) during their lifetime -- but only 5.5% used them in the last year. Men were more likely than women to have tried cocaine or street drugs, and to have used them in the last year.
Adults with less than a high-school education were least likely to have had sex (92%, vs. 96% overall).

This study asked a statistically accurate sample of more than 6,000 "civilian, non-institutionalized" United States adults (not including the homeless), ages 20-59. Data were collected from 1999 to 2002, using computer-assisted interviews to reduce reluctance to discuss stigmatized behavior.

The 3-page report (plus 10 pages of tables) is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/07newsreleases/druguse.htm.

For a summary, see USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-06-23-sexsurvey_N.htm.

2007-07-11
ATN070701

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