Sex potions. Relationships between alcohol, drugs and sex
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.390Keywords:
recreational use of drugs, risk behaviour, sexual behaviour, sexual transmitted illness, preventionAbstract
Throughout history drug and alcohol use has been intimately linked with sexual behaviour. Despite this however most attempts to improve sexual health and reduce levels of drug and alcohol use treat them as separate issues. With the availability of substances that have sex related effects potentially greater than ever, examining the links between sex and substance use has become a critical factor in addressing both issues. Here we discuss the relationships between alcohol, drugs and sexual behaviour, including the use of drugs as aphrodisiacs and sexual facilitators, how substances are increasingly being implicated in sexual assault, and how sex itself can be a means of obtaining drugs. We examine how those who use alcohol and drugs are more sexually active, more likely to practise unsafe sex, and hence at greater risk of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy. We consider how treatment services for substance use and sexual health may benefit from an understanding of each other issues. Finally in the area of prevention, we discuss how sexual health services might utilise drug related imagery to target those at risk of sexual transmitted infections and how those developing drug prevention initiatives must challenge the sexual image of many substances in order to reduce their appeal.References
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