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HOW NOT TO
GET HIGH,
GET STUPID,
GET AIDS

A Guide to Partying

National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health

Here's why mixing sex with partying isn't smart.

"He's very clean." "She comes from a good family."

Maybe you go to a party where there are drugs and alcohol. Maybe you get high, and your thinking gets muddy. That's when you do something stupid, something you wouldn't normally do, like have sex without a latex condom.

It's so easy to forget to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases when you aren't thinking clearly. When your judgement is gone you may not even care that AIDS is fatal.

Maybe you rationalize away the problem: "AIDS? Not her -- she comes from a good family." Or, "Anyone can see he's clean-cut." But you can't tell someone has HIV, the AIDS virus, just by looking.

It's tough to do the right thing, especially if you're high. Even if you don't drink excessively or use drugs, you always need protection when you have sex. As long as HIV can be passed sexually, sex with one person is like sex with all their previous partners.

It's a dilemma: just when you want to let go, you need to hold back. You need to keep a clear head. How can you do that and still party? The ideas on the following pages will help you handle situations where you want to have fun but don't want to get messed up by alcohol or other drugs.

Strategies for safe partying.

People are practicing new ways to protect themselves. Try a few, to find what works for you. "Hang out with people who don't take chances." -- Kris R. "Plan not to get high and stick to it. Do whatever it takes to help you remember." -- Dan C. "Don't have sex on a night you're partying." -- Chuck M. "Party where you know people don't use drugs." -- Tony D. "Believe in yourself, that's a real help." -- Salome B. "Carry a condom, use a condom." -- Alicia Z. "Don't forget to reward the designated driver." -- Sam F.

"Carry a condom, use a condom."

Learn you can depend on others by depending on others.

The Buddy System -- a big idea from Miami, FL. Team up with a friend. Use a code word to remind each other when it's time to switch to soda or call it a night.

What would you do?

1. You're partying and you meet someone you like, do you --
   a. go home with the person immediately?
   b. hang out and try to keep a clear head?
   c. make a date for tomorrow to see the person in the sober light of day?
   
   
2. You're at a party that suddenly takes a turn for the worse, do you --
   a. hang around to watch how bad things get?
   b. find you can't leave because you stayed too long?
   c. leave?

Simple hints for keeping a clear head.

Don't drink excessively or use drugs.
Eat something before partying.
Munch something during partying.
Less alcohol, more soda.
Add more ice. Much more ice.
Sip slowly, don't gulp.
Avoid straws.
Give yourself a chance to see the person in the non-partying light of day.

If getting high is part of the social and romantic fabric of your life, you can do better.

Give yourself a chance to see the person in the non-partying light of day.

A. No one needs to get high to be attrative to anyone else.

B. Figure out what you want from your social life. Meet the person of your dreams? Find someone to have fun with tomorrow? Kick back, relax, hang out with a group? Knowing what you want helps you make the right choices.

C. Think about modifying your partying for a good time without putting yourself at risk. (A party situation isn't necessarily an out of control situation).

D. Talk openly with friends about what they do to keep from getting high and risking AIDS.

Staying out of danger.

Meet people without going to bars! 17 places and events where it's easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger:

HIV/AIDS can happen to anyone. Anyone includes you.

Most 20-24 year olds with AIDS got it by sexual contact. It can take years to go from HIV infection to AIDS. In this age group, many more are probably infected but don't know it yet. As of September 1993, in this age group, 12,712 people have developed AIDS.

If you have questions or need more information on drugs and alcohol, call 1-800-662-HELP; on HIV/AIDS or how to use condoms, call 1-800-342-AIDS.

3 Last pieces of important info.

This booklet may be reprinted. For additional copies of this booklet and other print materials about drug abuse and AIDS contact the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information call 1-800-729-6686.