As a young LGBT person in Northern Ireland, you are going to encounter situations that will be different to others around you. It is important to be aware of these situations, particularly ones affecting your health and wellbeing. We want you to feel safe, secure, healthy and happy.
The situations below apply to all sorts of people, not just the LGBT community. Everybody is different, so take the information below and apply it to your own circumstances.
Drugs and Alcohol – Be aware of your own limits
We all like a good time out, and our society and culture recognises that a drink might be part of that. No-one is saying that you aren’t allowed to enjoy yourself, but you don’t need to look far nowadays to see the warnings and guidelines for alcohol. Like anything, in moderation it is enjoyable, however, if you drink too much, it can be unhealthy, and can lead to problems such as alcoholism.
Alcoholism is a fatal illness that affects 20-30% of the homosexual population. It could be described as an addiction, like to cigarettes or drugs, and like all addictions, can seriously affect your health.
Unfortunately, due to the stigma associated with being an LGBT person, some people feel the need to turn to alcohol to help them cope. Studies have found that 35% of lesbians have had a history of excessive drinking compared to only 5% of heterosexual women.
So what exactly should you be aware of when it comes to your alcohol?
- Anyone over 18 can buy and drink alcohol legally in licensed premises in Northern Ireland. Under this age, it is illegal to buy alcohol, and if caught drinking it, in most cases it will be confiscated by police.
- Most public areas in towns and cities are covered by ‘Alcohol Exclusion Zones’ where it is unlawful to drink alcohol in public. This applies to any opened / uncorked / uncapped alcohol. If it is unsealed, they will assume it is being drunk, and this can get you into trouble.
- Official guidelines recommend that men shouldn’t regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day and women shouldn’t regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day. The guidelines also recommend that after an episode of heavy drinking, it’s advisable to refrain from drinking for 48 hours to allow your body to recover.
- One unit is half a pint of ordinary-strength beer, lager or cider, one small glass of table wine or a 25ml measure of spirits.
Drugs (specifically non-prescription drugs) are on the increase in society, and you may have already been faced with a situation where you have to say ‘no’ to drugs. Like alcohol, drugs can be addictive, generally a lot more addictive. Drugs cause a large range of different health effects depending on which drug it is, but any health effects are negative. They may make you feel good for a short while, but in the long run, they do a lot more harm than good. Unfortunately, like alcohol, LGBT people tend to use drugs more often to cope with their situations. Further studies have shown that 30% of lesbians and gay men are addicted to drugs.
What should you know about drugs and how should you avoid a difficult situation?
- All non-prescription drugs are illegal. These are the ones you hear a lot in the news, such as (but not limited to) cannabis, heroin, marijuana, cocaine, morphine, amphetamines, crystal meth, steroids.
- It is ok to have prescription drugs, provided they have been prescribed to you, such as painkillers that your doctor has given to you.
- Being caught with drugs can mean big trouble. You could land yourself anything from a slap on the wrist and a fine to seven years in prison and an unlimited fine for possession. In either case, you may receive a criminal record that you will carry through your life.
- True friends will never pressurise you into making you take something that you don’t want to take. If your friends are all taking drugs, this doesn’t mean that you have to, and you don’t need to let them force you by telling you things like ‘You are just afraid’. Remember, it is your body, and no-one has the right to make you do something you don’t want to. If you need to, tell somebody, be it your family, your trusted friends, or even somebody like a youth worker or doctor.
- Some people have their own issues, and try to hurt other people with drugs. When in a bar or club, never leave your drink unattended. Spiking, where somebody slips a pill or drug into your drink while you are not looking, is a lot more common than you think and there are some people that take pleasure in ruining your night, or in getting you into a state where you do not understand what is happening. If you think your drink may have been spiked tell a member of staff immediately, and don’t drink anything that you suspect may have been spiked.
- Sometime situations can’t be avoided. If you have taken drugs, or possibly been spiked, make sure you know the risks. Always make sure you let someone with you know that you are on drugs and what drug you have taken. Keep your mobile on you and don’t wander away from your friends. Make sure you are with people you trust to take care of you if things go wrong.
- Never mix drugs with alcohol or other drugs. This combination could prove fatal.
To find out more, or the effects of different drugs visit 
Sex – Keeping Safe
Sex is a natural thing, and most (but not all) will have sex at some point in their lives. It can be quite a personal and intimate thing, and so you should feel that you are ready, and not feel pressured into having sex just because your partner wants to. If somebody tries to force you to have sex with them, tell somebody you trust, and remember, it is your body, so you should feel comfortable and in control of what happens with it.
If you and your partner have decided to have sex, there are some things you would do well to know. You may not think it but same-sex and LGBT couples have risks of STI’s (sexually transmitted infections) as well as heterosexual couples. We sometimes face different risks than our heterosexual counterparts and we may need to use different forms of protection but everyone is affected by sexually transmitted diseases and the only true way to protect yourself 100% is to not have sex at all.
Here is a little about some of the STI’s you may have heard about, as well as how you can protect yourself from them.
HIV / AIDS
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) are very serious viral infections that you can receive though sex, sharing of needles, or any time your blood or fluids come into contact with another persons blood or fluids. Sex is one of the most common ways of contracting the disease, whether it is between straight or gay, man or woman. Stereotypically, the disease is seen as the ‘gay disease’ as it originally became noticed amongst gay men who practised anal sex. Although there is only a 0.5% chance of contracting the disease through anal intercourse it’s a 0.5% chance you don’t want to take.
AIDS attacks the immune system, leaving your body incapable of fighting off even the most basic infections such as a cold, and increases the risks of developing cancer. After diagnosis the average survival time with therapy is estimated to be 5 years.
AIDS is incurable and can be caught from any penetrative sex, whether it be anal, vaginal and in rare cases oral sex.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that affects both men and women. It can be spread by any form of sexual contact. Symptoms of chlamydia include testicular swelling in males, discharge and inflammation. Chlamydia is treatable but can cause pneumonia, conjunctivitis, arthritis and half of sufferers will develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, a disease in women where the female genital tract, including the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes become inflamed, and can develop absesses, causing pain and tissue damage. Chlamydia is treatable with a course of antibiotics.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a curable STI. Symptoms include a skin lesion (flesh wound) occurring on average at 21 days after infection but can be 10 days. After around 6 weeks you can expect a fever, sore throat, and weight loss. You can also get meningitis or hepatitis as a secondary disease. If untreated syphilis can attack the heart and patients can suffer heart failure.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is amongst the most common STDs in the world. Most symptoms occur within 3 and 5 days of infection. In males inflammation of the urethra and prostate gland can occur. Women may complain of vaginal discharge, difficulty urinated and bleeding after sex and when you’re not on your period. It can also cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in women. Treatment is an injection.
Prevention
Although the only way to protect yourself from STDs is to not have sex and wrap yourself in a big bubble away from the world, there are ways to decrease the chances of infection.
The most common way for males is to use a condom. Condoms can be obtained for free from sexual health clinics such as The Rainbow Project, GUM clinics and from some bars and clubs. You can also buy condoms form most high street shops and pharmacists. You need not be embarrassed to ask for or buy them – nowadays they are one of the most commonly purchased items in the western world. There are different sizes and types, so you can experiment and find one that fits and feels right for you.
Girls can use a dental dam for oral sex which is a small piece of rubber placed over the vagina and condoms when using any sex toys.
If you are concerned about sexual health, or want to be tested for any STI’s, you can contact your local doctor, health centre, hospital or clinic. Our ‘Your Community’ page also has contact details for some hospitals and clinics around Northern Ireland.
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