Alcohol and Other Drugs

What would be the best sexual experience you can imagine?

Now-in this picture, were you wasted? Probably not.

Sexual experience is enhanced when you're fully aware of your body, consciously in touch with all of its sensations and desires.

For most people, it's also enhanced by a sense of connection with your partner. Neither of these is likely if you're under the influence.

One of the effects of alcohol and many other drugs is disinhibition, a relaxing of the limits you normally put on your behaviour. A little disinhibition can "loosen you up" and relax you, but too much can lead you to act in ways that violate your own values and do things that you may regret later.

After a couple of drinks, alcohol also has a "dulling" effect making you less aware of bodily sensations. You feel pain less when you've been drinking, and the same is true of pleasure.

Not only that, but alcohol and some other drugs can cause impotence-the inability to have an erection.

Coordination is also affected by alcohol and other drugs, and this is bad news when it comes to sexual technique-Even the most skillful lovers are going to be clumsier when they're under the influence.

And what about safer sex? You may be quite adept at using a condom effectively when you're sober, but how likely are you to use one correctly when you're not?

The effectiveness of birth control pills can also be affected by drinking or drug use. Any time you forget a pill, even for a couple of hours, you can be at risk of pregnancy. The chances of forgetting are much higher when you're under the influence.

Alcohol and drugs can also make you vomit, and you may lose enough of your pill to put you at risk of pregnancy.

If there's any chance of a pregnancy, you also need to be aware that alcohol and other drugs can cause serious harm to the developing fetus.

Obviously, drugs (including alcohol) have many other health and legal repercussions that are beyond the scope of this program. Suffice it to say that the better you take care of your body, the better it will serve you in the area of sex.