The Puzzle of Drugs, Alcohol, Sex, and Other Behaviors

The Puzzle of Drugs, Alcohol, Sex, and Other Behaviors

Sexuality is a complicated puzzle that many individuals don’t address during “treatment,” and it is a major factor in recovery and sobriety. The first time most individuals in recovery start addressing sexuality is during the 4^th step and the fearless moral inventory that raises sexuality as a series of questions. While helpful, the questions are minimal and don’t necessarily provide a robust path on the journey toward integrating sexuality and recovery. Sexuality is an area than can trigger a relapse. It is often the last piece of the puzzle client’s address in recovery. In my experience, the link between sexuality and drugs is pretty clear. At this point, a few examples can highlight the relationship. For many individuals who used crystal methamphetamine, the high is often linked to an intense sexual craving/drive. Recovery for the crystal meth addict will often require unlinking the drug/sex connection. Next, alcohol is considered liquid courage helping people overcome the fear of rejection. Furthermore, chemicals can deaden the pain of loneliness or provide an outlet when someone is bored. Another example, in early recovery clients often gain significant weight triggering negative feelings around body image.