Drugs and sexual consent

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Psychoactive drugs

Drugs and sexual consent is a topic that discusses the impacts of

autonomous
aspect of sexual consent.

The definition of sexual consent, "agreement to engage in

sexual activity", highlights that willingness is equivalent to consent and desire is equal to "wantedness", though they are not always related.[3] Therefore, individuals can provide consent for sex even if they do not necessarily desire it, making the boundary of “sexual consent” unclear.[4] The situation complicates the legitimate judgment of sexual violence, blurring the line between consensual sex and rape when the accuser is severely intoxicated and cannot clearly express disagreement.[5]

Most studies on drug and sexual consent are based on self-reports that emphasize the psychological and sociological aspects, while the direct biological mechanisms remain largely unexplored. However, the indirect physiological effects of drugs on sexual consent, such as impaired cognition and judgment, may lead to changes in

sexual behavior
and affect sexual consent.

Psychological and sociological aspects

A study demonstrated three ways drugs could affect sexual consent in psychological and sociological aspects.

Increased perceived sexual autonomy

Perceived sexual autonomy

Drugs could improve the autonomous aspect of sexual consent, thus raising the tendency of the user to engage in both desired and undesired sex.[3]

Firstly, drug use may diminish cognitive issues that keep people from engaging in sexual behaviors.

homosexual sex, which frees them from a sense of taboo.[6]

Through expanding user's sexual boundaries and limitations, drug also improves people's participation in different varieties of sex, including those that are previously undesired.

sex toys.[3]

Individuals on drugs reported feelings of intimacy, trust, love, and a strong desire to have sex with multiple sexual partners.[3] Due to the symbolic nature of closeness and trust, drug use may also boost a desire to engage in sex without using condoms.[3] Once the effects of the drugs wear off, these emotional attachments may fade away, leading to emotions of regret.[8]

Others' perception of drug users being sexually available

Consent

Individuals on drugs claimed to be viewed by others as sexually available, that is, more likely to provide consent to engage in sexual activities.

sex trade for drugs, implying a sense of reciprocity between these transactions.[3] Despite their initial reluctance, women often provide sex in return for drugs,[3] with 57% of opiate users reported receiving drugs or money in return for sex.[9] Unlike buying drugs with cash, the sex-bought method is often implicit with unspecific pricing standards.[3] People are less likely to relate implicit exchange with predicted bad outcomes, so they are more likely to encourage the behavior than explicit trades.[3]

Minimize the capability to communicate consent

Several studies have found that significant drug use can impair or change

passing out was challenged.[12] People on drugs are more “suggestible”. In other words, they are more willing to obey their sexual partner’s orders.[3]

Drugs also impair the capability to communicate sexual consent.

Narcotics can also impair muscular control, making it difficult to indicate no through body language.[7]

Biological activity of drugs

Although it is commonly believed that recreational drugs act as aphrodisiacs and serve as preludes to sexual activities, their specific mechanisms remain to be explored.[14] Various models have been composed to imitate the drug kinetics of these drugs on sex. However, most drug-sex study data were collected from small sample interviews and self-reports.[15] Social environment, drug dosage, duration of use, and user characteristics are other factors that should be considered.[16]

The section focuses on discussing several most used recreational drugs. Methamphetamine, which has more direct studies on its biological mechanism of sexual consent, is also explained.

Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant and a psychoactive drug that can alter human behavior.

seductive after drinking.[3][18]

However, other studies suggest excessive alcohol may have negative effects on sex. Alcohol can interfere with the release of sexual

gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which blocks impulse transmission, is most prominently increased by alcohol.[15] High blood alcohol level increases its activity in the spinal cord potentially causing drowsiness,[15]
making it more difficult to communicate sexual consent.

THC

Marijuana

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is of the highest consumption in the recreational drug market.[22] 70% of marijuana consumers viewed it as an aphrodisiac and 81% increased sexual delight and satisfaction.[23] However, limited physiological evidence indicates that it stimulates sexual desire or improves sexual function.[15] Most evidence suggests the link between the two is indirect. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, has a similar structure to the neurotransmitter anandamide. THC can target the hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex to affect memory formation and induce hallucinations.[15][24] It also influences feelings of pleasure, sensation, and other cognitive functions.[25]  In addition, high THC dosage impairs basic motor control and reactions.[25] The ability to communicate consent after initiating sexual activities decreases while intoxicated. However, the mechanisms of the self-reports effect of marijuana to promote sexual enjoyment are still unclear. This stimulation could result from a general improvement in sensory experience.[15]

Heroin

Opioid

neuroendocrine system, inhibiting gonadotropin-releasing hormones to decrease libido and lower testosterone levels in men.[15]

Previous research has been limited to self-report studies. However, opioid sedation can impair

cognitive function,[27] potentially impairing judgment about sexual boundaries and consent. It can also alter pain perception and pleasure,[28]
affecting drug-users' ability to assess their comfort level accurately during sexual activity.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine (MA) is a potent stimulant impacting the CNS. From self-report studies, It has been found to enhance sexual desire, promote pleasure, and delay orgasm.[15] However, methamphetamine use is greatly associated with high-risk sexual behaviors and reduction in sexual inhibition.[29][30] Methamphetamine can increase the likelihood of engaging in atypical sexually behaviors, such as pedophilia, group sex, and same-sex intercourse among heterosexual individuals.[25]

One issue related to sexual consent concerns whether agreement is made under conscious conditions. Methamphetamine abuse is linked to neurotoxicity in the brain and has deleterious effects on cognitive processes,[31] for example, deficits in episodic memory, executive functioning, information processing speed, motor skills, and language abilities.[32] The impairment of cognitive ability could thus lead to diminished capability to provide informed and enthusiastic consent.

Furthermore, Methamphetamine users have been found to differ from non-users in high-risk behavior related neurocognitive decision-making processes.[33] This research reveals the weaker activation of the risk and reward-modulating regions in brains of casual drug users. As the system is responsible for handling risks and rewards, neurological differences suggest that during decision-making, methamphetamine users may be less concerned about the potential risks associated with a choice. Instead, they may focus more on the potential gains and immediate outcomes. This could explain why methamphetamine users may engage in high-risk sexual behaviors or have sex with partners who they would not in sobriety. They only consider the immediate pleasure rather than long-term risks.

Animal studies confirm that methamphetamine and sexual behavior activate the same neurons in the CNS responsible for motivation and reward.[34] Methamphetamine and sexual behavior are considered as "rewards" that trigger the release of dopamine, causing feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. These pleasurable feelings in turn acts as a motivation again, encouraging people to compulsively seek natural rewards. In sum, this co-activation of neuronal populations suggests that methamphetamine use leads to compulsive seeking of natural rewards, in this case, sexual behavior, proving the drug heightens sexual consent autonomy.

Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA)

Main article: Drug-facilitated sexual assault
DFSA

Drugs do not only affect one's decision on sexual consent but also cause a loss of ability to express it.

gamma-hydroxybutyrate, and ketamine are frequently used in facilitating sexual assault.[35]

Ethanol

Ethanol is sometimes used as a date rape drug, as it can cause

mental confusion, all of which can aid the actions of sexual predators.[35]

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are medications used to treat anxiety, stress, and insomnia. When the drug binds to the GABA receptor, sedation and muscle relaxation occurs.[35] Flunitrazepam is a common benzodiazepine used in rape facilitation since it causes memory blackouts.[36]

Ketamine

dissociative anesthetic often abused for its euphoric and hallucinogenic tendencies.[35] The drug could induce dissociation in the brain, which is the separation or disconnection in activities between the thalamus and limbic systems,[37] causing amnesia that facilitate sexual abuse.[38]

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

GHB have a chemical structure similar to neurotransmitter GABA. It is commonly used as a date rape drug due to its euphoric and CNS depressant effects[39] which can slow down brain activity. Additionally, individuals may experience poor concentration and confusion after taking GHB.[40]

Application

Drug-taking was found to impact the capacity to make sexual decisions, raise engagement in

venereal disease.[41]

A key aspect of harm reduction is educating those who might use sex-related drugs about the consequences of doing so, and encouraging them to evaluate their possible sexual partners.

victim-blaming beliefs and increase social support.[3] Due to a lack of knowledge and education regarding sexual consent-related issues, bar industry employees have found it challenging to stop sexual harassment.[42] Implementing policies and prevention strategies could be aided by future education initiatives, like bystander prevention. However, many nightclubs claimed to have "zero-tolerance" drug usage policies, making it difficult to provide instruction without seeming to support drug use.[3]

References

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  16. ^ a b Rosen, Raymond (1991). "Alcohol and Drug Effects on Sexual Response: Human Experimental and Clinical Studies". Annual Review of Sex Research. 2 (1).
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