Drugs and sexual consent

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Drugs and sexual consent is a topic that discusses the impacts of drugs on sexual activity that lead to changes in sexual consent. Sexual consent is the voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity, which is essential in preventing sexual violence.^[1] Consent can be communicated verbally or nonverbally and should be freely offered.^[2] However, drug use, particularly psychoactive drugs (i.e. alcohol and some illicit drugs) that alter mental processes, can affect people's decision-making and consent communication ability, potentially impacting the 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.