Drugs, alcohol and sex. What happens when young adults who drink also do drugs? Do they have more negative sexual experiences within the last three months?

I. The Study  

Researchers¹sought the answer. To do so, they studied three categories of people.

1. 1. 1. Alcohol only.
      2. A second group, alcohol plus marijuana.
      3. A third group, alcohol plus marijuana and stimulants.

There were 1,015 respondents. They had a mean age of 19.

Researchers then compared alcohol and marijuana to alcohol only. They found that adding marijuana increased the risk of having a negative sexual experience. And adding both marijuana and stimulants increased the risk even more.

The research found that risk of negative sexual experiences increases with the number of drugs added to alcohol. Such experiences were not necessarily rapes or sexual assaults. Respondents simply viewed them in a negative way.

Another study² found consistent results. People who drank only alcohol had fewer problems. Those who added marijuana or stimulants had many more problems. For example, they were much less likely to use fewer protective strategies.

Drugs, Alcohol and Sex

II. Resources

     A. Avoiding Negative Sexual Experiences

• • Passivity can be seen permission. So be very direct and firm with anyone who is pressuring you sexually.
  • Don’t worry about hurting the person’s feelings. You are more important than that.
  • Respond physically if necessary. Push the person away. Explain what they’re doing is sexual assault. Loudly say “No!”

 B. Web Pages

• • Alcohol and Sex.
  • Drinking Alcohol and Sexual Performance of Men.
  • Drinking Alcohol Sex and Violence. What You Didn’t Know.
  • Alcohol and ED.
  • Intoxication and Judgment.
  • Alcohol and the Perception of Beauty. Beer Goggles Effect?
  • Alcohol and Sexual Assault.
  • Intoxication in Rape Claims.

C. Endnotes

1. 1. Lewis M. et al. Polysubstance use among young adults. Addict Behav, 138.
   2. Florimbio A. et al. Risky drinking in new adults. Sub Use Misuse, 58(2).

 D. Readings

• • Amstadter, A. et al. Predictors of assault victimization. Addict Behav, 36(8), 814-20.
  • Leth, S. et al. Polysubstance abuse in Greenland. Int J Circum Health, 80(1).
  • McCauley, J. Substance use among women. Addict Behav, 38(4), 1952-57.
  • Nwabueze, C. Polysubstance Use, Crime, and Violence. E Theses Diss, #3918.  
  • Ullman, S. et al. Polysubstance use in sexual assault. Viol Victims, 21(6), 725-43.

Note

• • This site gives no advice. Please see your doctor for questions.