Sex & Substances
Sex and substances are not always the most recommended pairing, but it’s not uncommon for people to partake in them simultaneously. We’re not judging if you decide to mix these two, but it’s essential to know the potential risks and benefits when having sex in any altered state. We’ll get into more details specifically on consuming alcohol, marijuana, and mushrooms in a second, but there are a couple of disclaimers we want to go over first.
Everything referenced in the article discusses substance use recreationally. We’re not going to get into substance use disorders or addiction. With that, if you or a partner find themselves unable to have sex or enjoy sex without the aid of a substance like alcohol, marijuana, or mushrooms, there may be underlying issues to look at. Talk with a mental health provider for support. Second, none of this is medical advice or advice on taking substances. Some things discussed here are not legal in all places, so look into the laws where you live and talk to a medical provider if you have questions or concerns about the impact of taking any substances.
Substances As A Whole
Any substance is going to alter your experience slightly. Whether you’re having a beer to loosen up after a long day or taking a full trip with shrooms. In relation to sex, things can get pretty cloudy consent-wise. We highly recommend only having sex with people you trust when you’re planning to consume any type of substance. Have conversations ahead of time about what you’re each OK with and what you’re not.
Along with checking in during sex, these pre-conversations help avoid any situations where people find themselves pressured or agreeing to things they wouldn’t normally. Even with having these conversations in advance, if you or anyone else seems unable to form coherent sentences, communicate clearly, or hold themselves up on their own, sex should be off the table. Once someone becomes not just drunk or high, but incoherent, they can no longer consent.
If you haven’t consumed substances before and are planning to try for the first time or for the first time during sex, stick to the phrase “low and slow.” Start at a low dose and don’t increase too quickly. It can be helpful to be somewhere familiar, like your home, and be around others who have done it before. Everyone reacts differently to alcohol and drugs, so just because one person has an experience doesn’t mean that will be yours. Trust your body and mind, and you’ll know what works best for you.
Sex + Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the most used substances on our list, roughly 80% of the people over the age of 12 in the US have consumed alcohol at least once. Alcohol and sex are an interesting combination because, for some people, alcohol can do opposite things for your mind and body. A little bit of alcohol might be used as a social lubricant and seen as a way to “get in the mood.” This happens because alcohol is a depressant, so it can lower your inhibitions and in turn, increase your libido. But lowered inhibitions aren’t always a good thing. Research shows that while drinking alcohol, people are more likely to participate in risky sexual behaviors. This is where consent becomes crucial. If you’re having sex with someone and if either of you have been drinking, it’s best to talk about boundaries in advance while sober. Then while having sex, continue to check-in. This doesn’t have to be formal or bland, consider incorporating check-ins.
Alcohol may make you mentally more turned on, but our bodies don’t always stay on the same page. It can have the opposite effect. Since alcohol is a depressant, it doesn’t just suppress anxieties, nerves, or stress. It also acts as a depressant for the Central Nervous System (CNS), which plays a part in arousal, including erections, vaginal lubrication (aka getting wet), and orgasms. You may have heard of the term “whiskey dick” and that’s the science behind it. Although it can happen with any type of alcohol, erections can be hard to get and maintain when drinking alcohol due to a lack of blood flow to the penis. This can also cause an inability to orgasm. Heavy and long-term alcohol consumption can even lead to sexual dysfunction like ED. If you’re planning to have sex after a few drinks, it’s always good to keep lube on hand for extra support.
Sex + Cannabis
While cannabis (aka weed or marijuana) is a commonly used drug, it’s still not legalized or decriminalized at a federal level. Currently, marijuana with THC is legalized for medical use in 39 states and for recreational use in 24 states - make sure you know what rules apply where you live. While THC isn’t federally legal, the FDA is still involved in the production of cannabis products. As opposed to other substances that are unregulated, FDA oversight helps ensure that the products that are being sold adhere to certain regulations.
Within cannabis, there are two main types: CBD and THC. Both come for the cannabis plant, but have very different effects. CBD stands for Cannabidiol and is legal on the federal level. There are still some state-level restrictions regarding buying and selling CBD, but it’s generally much easier to get. The main reason is because CBD is not psychoactive. There’s limited research on the effects of cannabis on specific symptoms, but people generally take it to help with anxiety, nerve pain, inflammation, and nausea. It’s also now approved in Epidiolex, the first medication made from a marijuana ingredient to treat epilepsy.
THC is more complicated (both name-wise and effects-wise). It stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and it’s the psychoactive element of cannabis. This is what people think of when they reference “getting high” and where legality can be trickier. People use weed with THC for everything from recreational uses to help minimize nausea during chemotherapy and mental health aids. THC has not been FDA approved for use in any treatments at this point and most research is anecdotal.
When it comes to sex and cannabis, they can pair quite well together. Weed tends to have both depressant and stimulant effects. People report that it can decrease anxiety and pain and make you drowsier. Others say it makes them more alert, more sensitive to physical sensations, and euphoric. If you are someone who tends to become more in tune with physical sensations after using cannabis, it may also enhance your experience during sex. Qualitative research showed that consuming cannabis increased libido, desire, and satisfaction along with overall better sex and more intense orgasms for most participants. This was tied to heightened physical sensations and relaxation. Although alcohol and cannabis can both have relaxing effects, the main difference when it comes to sex is that alcohol numbs and weed enhances.
As with most substances, one thing to keep in mind is the impact on fertility. Some research has shown that cannabis consumption can impact fertility. If you’re in the process of trying to get pregnant or are having fertility issues, talk with your doctor about how cannabis could be impacting it.
Sex + Mushrooms
Things get even murkier when it comes to mushrooms. We’re talking “magic mushrooms” or “shrooms,” not the everyday kind you’re asking to get removed from your pizza. The formal name for “magic mushrooms” is psilocybin. Currently, Oregon is the only state that has legalized the use of psilocybin with Colorado following closely behind having decriminalized it. But even in Oregon, you can’t buy it as freely as you can marijuana. The main purpose of legalizing in Oregon was for research and medical use. People can only consume mushrooms under the direct supervision of a facilitator in the context of mental health treatment.
Psilocybin has been used by Indigenous communities for centuries to treat things like depression, PTSD, and other mental health concerns. It acts by binding and activating serotonin receptors in the brain. It alters brain activity contributing to a shift in consciousness and reality. Low doses (also known as micro-dosing) can lead to elevated mood and creativity whereas higher doses (psychedelic doses) lead to psychoactive effects such as hallucinations. These hallucinations can range pretty broadly, but often include changes in movements, colors, and shapes. People often take mushrooms with the intention of connecting to the earth or to have a spiritual experience. Even more limited research has been conducted on the effects of mushrooms than marijuana due to its legal status. With that, there’s virtually no research on the impacts of psilocybin on sex.
However, one mixed-methods study showed that participants taking psilocybin as an SSRI replacement experienced an increase in sexual functioning. More research is needed on whether this increase was due to no longer having the side effects of SSRIs or if it was directly due to the mushrooms. Due to the optimism around using psilocybin as a treatment for mental health disorders, it could be shown to be an option for sexual dysfunction in future research as well.
Because psilocybin is classified as a psychedelic and can change your perception of reality, there are risks involved when having sex during a “trip.” You may see or experience things that aren’t there or find that something as simple as a facial expression sets you off. If you’re planning to have sex while on shrooms, it’s important to have explicit conversations about consent ahead of time. Check-in with yourself and each other throughout, and if anything feels less than amazing, take a break before continuing.
Whether you’re having sober, high, drunk sex, or anything in between, keep the lines of communication open between you and your partners. Substances can be an interesting way to try something new, but they can also alter the decisions that you would make while sober. Do everything you can to ensure that everyone involved is on the same page no matter what substances are involved.