Saturday, January 13, 2007

Sex and Drugs, is it all Rock and Roll?

Try as I might, I can’t remember having ever met anybody who was completely satisfied with his or her sex life. And, no, I’m not talking about people whose sex lives are downright depressing and need a change. It’s just that people want a lot of variation in their lives; they are always searching for the elusive “something else”. That’s how they get to trying all sorts of fantasies, using toys and other props, looking for new sex partners, trying different moods and locations, or using alcohol and drugs to spice things up. Judging from the fast lives people have today and from their interest in being entertained all the time, I’d say there’s a lot of spice going around.

The biggest problem with drugs is that different people respond in different ways. This means there’s no guarantee as to the effects, much less when moods can also interfere with drugs. Imagine that you and your partner are taking something to brighten things up and end up with two very different moods. One of you is aroused, the other is having a bad trip. Definitely not sexy. The second biggest problem is that drugs interfere with the flow of blood, motivation and response to arousal. Let’s take a look at the most common drugs and their effects on love-making.

Cocaine and amphetamines are stimulants of the nervous system and people take them to feel the powerful rush to the brain. But these substances don’t always mix well with sex. Both cocaine and amphetamines are known to cause problems with achieving erections and orgasms. While making orgasm more difficult is a good idea if you want a longer intercourse, this could also lead to chaffing of the intimate parts. This comes highly NOT recommended.

Mescaline, LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and all the other substances of the psychedelic variety should be left to artists and the very adventurous types. Although these substances are not addictive, their effects are too unpredictable to be of any consistent use. Bad hallucinations and moods could turn sex into a traumatic trip best left outside your range of experiences. While it’s true that these psychoactive substances make people much more aware of each other, they are also very unlikely to promote sexual arousal.

Ecstasy is yet another risky choice. Although MDMA makes people like each other, it is not recommended for sex. Just like some of the above-mentioned substances, MDMA interferes with the sympathetic nervous system and impairs erections. MDMA is more of an empathy drug that opens people up and makes them comfortable with themselves and friendly to others. Some Ecstasy users seek to offset this effect by taking Viagra at the same time as Ecstasy, which your cardiovascular system may not find to be such a hot idea.

The same goes for opiates. Drugs like opium, codeine, morphine and heroin are well-known for decreasing the libido and making erections more difficult. People who use opiates tend to experience solitary pleasures and do not feel that need to share that is so important in sex. And it’s only fair, I suppose. The 30 seconds of pleasure given by sex are a poor match for the four to eight hours of euphoria and tranquillity generated by opiates.

Arguably, the most important effect of all drugs is the banishment, at least for a while, of inhibitions and self-consciousness. This state of mind allows partners to enjoy sex more and to bring out all repressed fantasies. However, the loss of inhibitions is also the reason why users of recreational drugs have unprotected sex with perfect strangers who don’t always mean well.

Having a blast in bed is a great experience. Waking up with various STDs, without the wallet and keys and at a completely unknown location next to a completely unknown person who doesn’t look as good as she/he did last night, is not. I know that using drugs as a prelude to either blackmail or rape is uncommon, but it’s not exactly rare either. Be careful what you do.

In the end, the choice is yours. If you want to take a chance and risk your health and life, a simple article isn’t going to stop you. Still, for your sake try to stop and think before taking any unnecessary risks. Have fun, but stay safe.

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