New research published recently by alcohol charity Drinkaware and sexual health charity Brook says that consuming alcohol increases the chances of young adults taking risks, including that of their sexual health. The research shows that 25% of 16 and 17-year olds had consumed alcohol the first time they had sex minus a condom, while more than 50% had friends who have had sex without a condom because of intoxication.

Drinkaware and Brook have joined forces yet again, and this year, during Christmas and New Year will give out information packs to young people containing information on alcohol, sexual health and personal safety. According to previous research, teenage conceptions peak in December and January - thus, the reason for charities such as these two to decide to join forces during this time of year.

The campaign titled ‘Have fun. Be careful.’ will constantly remind young adults that consuming alcohol could affect their ability to assess risks, encourage them to use a condom if they decide to have sex and to make plans to go home safely after a night out on the town. The information pack also includes a condom and mobile phone credit. Besides this, on New Year’s Eve, 16 and 17-year olds will receive a text message reminding them to ‘have fun’ and ‘be careful’.

The research also shows:

25% admit they would be more likely to have sex without a condom when drunk.
Over 50% rarely or never carry condoms on a night out.
32% would most probably not have an STI test after having unprotected sex.
15% drink at least three times a week.
34% walked home alone at night when drunk.
10% had drunk sex when they were drunk and regretted it afterwards.

Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that teens engaging in prescription drug abuse are most likely to turn to friends and family to get illicit substances. According to the report, roughly half of all teens misusing prescription drugs such as stimulants, tranquilizers and sedatives said they most recently obtained medicine from friends or a family member for free.

The data also showed that teens who obtained drugs from friends and families were significantly more likely to have a concurrent drug or alcohol addiction and have ten or more “misuse” episodes than teens who obtained prescription drugs in other ways.  The authors of the report said that “these results may help identify subgroups of adolescent prescription misusers who are most vulnerable to consequences from misuse or other substance use.”

Recent results from the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s “Monitoring the Future” report showed a continuing high level of prescription drug misuse among teens. Addiction treatment programs are seeing more teens who are attempting to quit using stimulants such as Adderall than ever before.

Global Appeal 2010 will aim to bring an end to the stigma surrounding millions who suffer from leprosy. On January 25, 2010, the appeal, backed by corporate world leaders will launch in Mumbai, India, among many more willing to express their concern towards such a denial of basic human rights. India has the most number of leprosy cases, with new cases of the disease close to 134,000 in 2008.

The fifth in a series of appeals, this is the brainchild of Yohei Sasakawa, The chair of Japan’s largest foundation, The Nippon Foundation. Sasakawa, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Goodwill Ambassador for the Elimination of Leprosy and Japanese Government Goodwill Ambassador for the Human Rights of People Affected by Leprosy.

One of the world’s oldest diseases, leprosy, if left to its own, results in deformity of limbs and other appendages. The cure in 1980, the multidrug therapy was made freely available to all those suffering from leprosy by the World Health Organization with early financial backing by The Nippon Foundation and later from the Novartis Foundation.

Over 16 million people have been cured of the disease with the wide use of MDT and leprosy is considered a health problem in only three countries: Nepal, Brazil and Timor-Leste. From 1985 onwards, 119 countries have managed to achieve the WHO target of one leprosy patient for every 10,000 people.

However, such progress has been unsuccessful in removing the social stigma so commonly associated with leprosy. Those suffering from the disease, referred to as ‘lepers’ and treated as pariahs while being subjected to sever discrimination. Thus affecting their employment, marriage and other social activities, and denied even basic human rights.