for Veterans and the Public

Certain drugs, such as methamphetamine, affect your ability to make decisions.

Even though you use condoms regularly and practice safer sex when you're not high, you may be willing to take more risks and not use a condom when you're under the influence of methamphetamine or other drugs.

Alcohol can also affect the decisions you make about safer sex. For example, if you have too much to drink, you may not be able to remember where you put the condoms, and decide simply not to use them. These are decisions you probably would not make if you were sober.

These actions put your partner at risk for HIV and put you at risk for other sexually transmitted diseases.

Remember to keep condoms handy in places where you might have sex. Also, try to limit the amount of alcohol you drink if you know you are going to have sex.