The link between drug use and HIV/AIDS among young people in ...

Sexual promiscuity was reported as a high risk for HIV/AIDS. Participants reported that young people
engaged in sex out of curiosity and experimentation, and did not fully understand the consequences of
their actions, thus making it easier for them to contract the virus.
“So people don’t stick with their own boyfriend these days; that eh reigning. It has a
increase risk that we could be infected because we don’t know who our partners are.”
[females, 14-16, in and out of school]
While it was stated that the age group more at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS was 13–25 years, the
teenage years were generally seen as being a time of greater vulnerability since these were the years of
puberty and maturity – the development of sex hormones resulted in the desire to have sex. Specific
mention was made of the adolescent period:
“14-18; that is the most active time. That is the time of adolescence, they describe it as
the period of storm and stress. So at that time you wild, you want to experience
everything, you want sex and drugs. So what that lead t? Disease.” [females, 14-16, in
school]
It appeared that there was a belief that females were more vulnerable than males because of the
perception that women were more prone to contracting SIDs than men, the trend of many young girls
beginning their sex life with older men and the control men have over women as being responsible for
contraceptive use.
“I believe that women are more vulnerable. Yes. For example, a girl having sex with a
boy, it’s up to the guy whether or not he want to get her pregnant or not. Teenagers, they
hot, that is the age when their hormones start to rage and they craving sex, and most girls
mature faster than guys and they prefer the older guys and these older guys have been
there already and they might pick up that disease and some of them don’t even know and
they having sex with these teenagers and we young boys when we looking for these young
girls to be we wife, they have the thing on them.” [males and females, in and out of
school, 17-19]
A minority indicated that HIV/AIDS was not a problem in Grenada because of their misconception
that there was indeed a cure for HIV/AIDS.
Drugs & Sex
Participants indicated that one of the effects of consuming drugs was the desire to engage in sex.
“I think when you use drugs, you change, your mood changes; it’s very influential in your
sexual feeling. Drugs lead to having sexual intercourse.” [females, 14-16, in school]
It was reported that young persons deliberately consumed drugs to have sexual intercourse. Nine
groups (100% respondents) mentioned the belief by young persons that drugs such as marijuana,
alcohol, and the combination of Panadol or Phensic and coke (Coca Cola) increased sexual energy and
stamina and allowed for more pleasurable sexual intercourse.
“If you take drugs, you perform better. Yes, they usually take alcohol and marijuana to
get high to perform better in bed.” [males and females, 20-24, in and out of school]
Five groups reported that boys did drug or ‘spike’ girls’ drinks in order to take advantage and engage
in sexual misconduct with them.
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