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

by John S James

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

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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

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