Be wise and live free

The movie, The 24th Day,” illustrates how easily lives can unravel just because of a random sexual encounter with a stranger. In the fi lm, a presumably straight man brings a gay man back to his apartment and engages in unprotected sex.

The gay man was HIV+ but didn’t know because he didn’t want to know. He infected the other man who ultimately took HIV home to his wife. She later died of AIDS.

The good news for the actors in this tragic fi lm is that it was only a movie. The sad news for thousands of people across the United States is that things like this actually happen.

The usual reasons for people not to protect themselves during sex is that they don’t want to believe they may be infected or that they can get infected or that condoms are not convenient or that the sex doesn’t feel as good.

Another unfortunate reason is that many of those who become infected with HIV each year are also injecting drug users (IDUs). IDUs run the risk of infection in multiple ways. Obviously, if people share needles for drugs, they also potentially share each other’s blood. Additionally, because they are under the infl uence of mind-altering substances, they may engage in other risky behaviors that include having unprotected sex. In fact, they may exchange sexual favors for the drugs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people between the ages of 18-29 had the highest percentages of unprotected sex and receptive needle sharing. Among these, 52% willingly shared needles with each other, 80% of the young men had unprotected sex, and 89% of the young women had unprotected sex.

Engaging in unprotected sexual behaviors and using drugs, especially injectable ones, is kind of like playing Russian roulette with a completely loaded gun. You don’t have to be a statistic and you don’t have to endanger the people you love.

If you have substance abuse issues [or issues with a sexual addiction], get help. It may not be easy, but it may save your life. If you no longer have to trade sex for drugs, then you can enjoy sex for the sake of sex and take proper precautions to prevent the spread of HIV.

However old you are, your whole life is ahead of you. Be wise and live free.

by Mary Turner Health Columnist

The Gayly – August 11, 2014 @ 6:05am