CDC report finds that risky sexual behavior is down

Health officials have been working hard for the past few decades to educate the public about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that young people between the ages of 15 and 26 are still at a very high risk of contracting these infections, officials may be left to wonder if their message is getting through. Recently, however, USA Today reported on a victory in the field of STD prevention.

A report released by the CDC has found that the number of Americans engaging in risky sexual or drug-related behavior has dropped in the past few years. While 13 percent of men and 11 percent of women were participating in dangerous activities in 2002, that number was reduced to 10 and 8 percent, respectively, in 2010.

"Generally, these are behaviors that are studied in higher risk populations, but by looking in the household population we can get a better sense of the level of risk that may exist in the general population that you don't normally think about," said report author Anjani Chandra, a health scientist at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, quoted by the news source.

Among the behaviors that the CDC examined was illicit drug use, having several sexual partners or having sex with a partner who injects illegal drugs. According to Chandra, the reason for this drop in risky activities is unclear. While it could be that awareness campaigns are getting through, it could also be that people are less willing to disclose their behavior.

Furthermore, the study revealed that more people are practicing safer sex, which is one of the best ways to avoid developing an STD. It's important to note, however, that Philip Alcabes, an associate professor in the School of Health Sciences at Hunter College/City University of New York, was quoted as being critical of the study, saying that research efforts should still be focused on eliminating the very real problem of HIV.