Substance abuse can have devastating physical and emotional consequences. But there are also a number of associations between substance abuse and a range of (often dangerous) sexual behaviors. Before using a substance, you should consider all possible consequences of substance use, not just those that occur as a direct result of use. It is also important to be cognizant of the environment that you are in as well as of the people who are with you, and if you choose to consume alcohol or another substance, make sure you are as safe as possible. Family and friends of addicts or substance abusers should also be aware of the risks and watch for dangerous behaviors.

Substance Use and Increased Sexual Risk-taking

Substance use can decrease inhibitions and make a person more likely to engage in sexual behaviors that they might not normally engage in when sober. Alcohol is perhaps the most common substance that decreases sexual and other inhibitions, but it is not the only one. For example, some studies suggest the methamphetamine use in the gay community increases the user’s willingness to engage in sex with anonymous partners, in more vulnerable positions, and for longer periods of time – all of which increase the likelihood of transmitting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases (For more information on this problem, read Methamphetamine Use in the Gay Community). Additionally, a study of African American adults found that cocaine users were more likely to engage in high-risk sexual activity (like having multiple partners and avoiding condoms) than alcohol or marijuana users. The study also showed that there was no significant difference in the likelihood of engaging in these behaviors based on the user’s sex.

Substance Use and Rape

Date rape (also called acquaintance rape), which occurs when one person forces another person whom they have spent time with or dated to have sex, is often associated with substance abuse. Often the victim, the perpetrator, or both have been drinking or using substances; this does not make rape excusable. Although date rape can occur to males or females of any age or background, date rape associated with substance use is particularly problematic for females in club scenes or on college campuses. One study found that nearly one-fourth of females in college have received unwanted sexual advances from males who have been drinking excessively. (Read Campus Life: What You Need to Know.) In some cases, drugs like GHB, Ketamine, or Rohypnol are added to a victim’s drink in a club or food at a restaurant; the perpetrator will then rape them, and the victim will have no memory of the experience. For this reason, it is important to always be very aware of the origin of your drinks.

Substance Abuse and Reproductive Health

Research indicates that extensive alcohol and/or drug abuse can cause indifference and low libido in the short-term as well as long-term problems with reproductive health, depending on the substance. For example, use of drugs such as marijuana, heroin, and cocaine can cause erectile dysfunction, and cocaine, in particular, is associated with priapism (an erection that persists for more than four hours without stimulation and is considered a medical emergency). Furthermore, using alcohol or other substances during pregnancy can have devastating consequences for the health of the unborn baby and can lead to birth defects and cognitive deficits (Read Alcohol & Pregnancy).