Cocaine use, either as crack cocaine or powder, produces strong feelings of euphoria, high energy, and confidence.
When people use cocaine in any form as a sexual enhancement drug, the effects can lead to unintended risky behavior and other consequences.
How Cocaine Abuse Affects Sexual Activity
Cocaine works on the brain as a central nervous system stimulant and acts on the dopamine pathways that provide a reward and pleasure.
Cocaine that is snorted in powder form will provide this reward and euphoria for about 30 minutes to an hour, while crack cocaine, which is more addictive and stronger-acting, will last half as long.
People that take cocaine to enhance their sexual experience may find that it increases sexual desire and sex drive.
Cocaine can make people feel like their performance is “god-like” (to them) and may initially heighten feelings of pleasure.
However, cocaine lowers inhibitions and compromises decision-making. This means that people who engage in sexual behavior while on cocaine may experience unwanted effects beyond the typical side effects of cocaine toxicity.
Side Effects Of Cocaine And Sex
When cocaine is ingested in powder form or as crack cocaine, it produces strong feelings of euphoria and well-being.
Short-Term Effects
Cocaine use — regardless of the dose of cocaine — may carry negative effects beyond the sought-after positive feelings.
These effects may include symptoms such as:
- agitation and restlessness
- high blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- talkativeness and rambling
- pale complexion
- anxiety
- lightheadedness
- confusion
- nausea/vomiting
- enlarged pupils
- excitability
- sweating
- fever
- muscle tremors
Dangers Of Using Cocaine During Sex
When sexual activity involves illicit drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines to increase dopamine and speed up vital systems, it increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Cocaine drug use has been shown to lower inhibitions and increase libido. And when a person is high on cocaine and possibly other substances, they are engaging in doubly risky behavior.
From a health standpoint, cocaine use as a sexual enhancement creates an environment where people may:
- take more risks, such as unprotected sex
- be exposed to more dangerous circumstances
- have lowered inhibitions regarding contraception
Risk Of Sexual Assault
Men and women that engage in sex while high on cocaine may not be able to adequately consent.
Because of this, combined with an increased sex drive and impulsivity, both men and women may engage in behavior that they normally wouldn’t.
When two people are intoxicated with cocaine past the point of comprehension, intercourse may be considered sexual assault, depending on the jurisdiction.
Possessing cocaine is federally illegal, and having sex while on cocaine may pose additional legal issues.
Risk Of Unsafe Sex
When a person is high on cocaine, they generally do not consider the various risk factors associated with sexual activity.
Vigorous Sexual Activity
Cocaine users may engage in more vigorous sexual experiences because of cocaine’s numbing and analgesic qualities.
Contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
People that have rougher sex are at a much higher risk of sexually transmitted disease because of the increased likelihood of tissue damage from rough intercourse.
Unprotected Sex
Cocaine drug users under the influence are less likely to use a condom.
Increase In Sexual Partners
People that use a lot of cocaine or use habitually may seek out more frequent partners as their ability to achieve sexual satisfaction wanes over time.
Sexual Function And Dysfunction In Those Who Use Cocaine During Sex
People that take cocaine for sexual performance may end up damaging their ability to enjoy sex in the future.
Orgasms may be more intense or pronounced alongside cocaine use early on. However, a person of any gender that abuses cocaine may have difficulty achieving sexual release — leading to sexual frustration.
Cocaine’s Impact On Male Sexual Function
Men that have sex while on cocaine may have lower sperm counts and prolonged fertility issues because of prolonged erections that can happen as a result of cocaine use.
Erectile dysfunction that decreases ability to climax may also happen to men that regularly engage in sex while on cocaine.
Cocaine’s Impact On Female Sexual Function
For women, cocaine use in any form increases the possibility of risky or unintended sexual encounters. This can result in contracting STIs and unwanted pregnancy.
Cocaine use in any amount can increase the prevalence of fallopian tube damage, infertility, conception issues, and permanent changes to a woman’s menstrual cycle.
The temporary rush of sex while on cocaine can lead to severe, permanent, and completely unintended consequences.
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- Medscape — Cocaine Toxicity
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/813959-overview - Psychopharmacology — Cocaine administration dose-dependently increases sexual desire and decreases condom use likelihood: The role of delay and probability discounting in connecting cocaine with HIV
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5343757/ - Thomas Jefferson University — Cocaine Effects on Norepinephrine in the Amygdala
https://www.jefferson.edu/academics/colleges-schools-institutes/skmc/departments/neurosurgery/research/cocaine-effects-norepinephrine-mygdala.html - U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus — Cocaine Intoxication
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000946.htm