STI rise blamed on drink abuse

ALCOHOL abuse is leading to the sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections (STI), which are now at their highest-ever recorded level, Health Minister Mary Harney said yesterday.

The Tánaiste said over-consumption of alcohol was proving a major problem for the health services and GPs are reporting a serious increase in the numbers seeking morning-after contraception because of unsafe sex following drinking binges.

An 8% increase has been recorded in reported STIs in Ireland while there was a 10% increase in numbers diagnosed with HIV infection last year, according to the annual report of the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC), published yesterday.