Recommendations
"Wear a condom, be smart and be nice…"(Justin*) -- *all names are pseudonyms
Health promotion recommendations to address risks of intoxicated sex:
- Drug and alcohol education aimed at recreational drug users.
- Promote moderation strategies as masculine health practices.
- Identify other risks with intoxicated sex: blackouts, regret, issues around consent.
- Represent diversity of masculinities, not just party image of guys.
- Provide gender specific information on sexual pleasure and sexual wellness.
The following are suggestions that the participants had for young men:
- Learn how your body is affected by drugs and alcohol. Pay attention to your limits so you can still perform sexually and don’t become obnoxious to others.
- Having sex when you are wasted is risky because you could have sex with someone you don’t want to and/or you could not use protection.
- Don’t assume the girl you are sleeping with wants a relationship. Girls wear ‘beer goggles’ too. You are not as hot as you think you are. Check your ego.
- Don’t assume a girl wants to sleep with you because she is flirting with you or kissing you. Relax and let go of your expectations to have sex. You have a better time when you just enjoy whatever happens, rather than trying to force a certain outcome, like intercourse.
- Not every night ends in a hookup. Lots of guys go home alone and sometimes guys don’t want sex. They may be tired or have to get up early for work or just don’t feel into it.
- Don’t expect sex to look like the porn you watch on the internet. Give guys a brutally honest assessment of what sex is like in reality. It doesn’t last for hours and what is shown in porn is not usually pleasurable for girls.