Past events
 

Sex, alcohol and other drugs - the links in young people's lives, presented by Simon Blake, Brisbane, July 2006


Simon Blake, Assistant Director of Children's Development at the National Children's Bureau (UK), was invited by FPQ to present this two-hour workshop to approximately 80 participants. Below is a summary of his presentation and notes from discussions on the day. This event was a collaborative initiative of FPQ and Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS). A DVD with highlights of the workshop will be available from the CYMHS Koping Library in the near future.

Young people, as part of interview-based research, stated that health education and support programs are not working as they are not 'joined up' and don't reflect the reality of their lives.

In the findings from this research, it was clear that alcohol and other drugs are significant features of youth and adult culture. Alcohol and other drugs were found to serve a number of purposes in the lives of young people.

They are a means to:

  • experiencing discovery, exploration and risk
  • enabling something that is wanted to happen, reducing inhibitions, allowing different expressions of personality
  • shifting perceived or experienced vulnerabilities, inequalities, power and inclusion

In terms of sexual health outcomes, use of alcohol and other drugs is concerning because it is linked with unwanted and regretted sex both for males and females, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Several challenges to improving approaches to sex and relationships education were outlined. Carers and educators of young people need to:

  • value sex and sexuality
  • help young people to value sex and sexuality - if young people value sex and have awareness of 'good' sex, they will be less willing to put up with 'rubbish' sex that is neither safe nor pleasurable
  • recognise that young people will make mistakes
  • help young people learn from mistakes - if young people are overly concerned with hiding evidence of their mistakes, they will be too preoccupied to learn from them.

Simon summed up by stating, 'Joining up' requires new ways of working that transcend our traditions and most importantly enables young people to develop feeling and thinking capacity and skills to take control of their lives and to identify, assess and manage risks including those relating to sex, alcohol and other drugs.