Crystal Meth and Its Affect On Sexual Addiction

• Can crystal meth cause an individual to have an insatiable craving for uninhibited sexual encounters long after they stop using?
• Can a non-sex addict become sexually addicted due to the co-occurrence of their drug use and sexual acting out?
• Do some sex addicts abuse crystal meth to further a prior involvement with compulsive sexual behavior –particularly if they are sexual with multiple partners?

Unfortunately, the answer to all of these questions is yes. More than alcohol or any other drug, crystal meth is associated by its users with significant enhancement of the sexual experience. Researchers report that crystal meth and related amphetamine abuse can cause and/or encourage hypersexual behavior.  Studies also show that the time spent in pursuit of any pleasurable activities, when high on crystal meth (amphetamines) is dramatically increased regardless of the nature of such activity. It is no wonder that a substantial majority of relapsing crystal meth addicts attribute relapse and relapse behavior to sexual activity. Ironically, the chronic use of crystal meth to enhance and/or prolong sex can lead to the brain’s inability to properly process dopamine and impede the individual’s ability to experience sober pleasures.

So, does it really matter which came first? Not really.  But what does matter is that for many co-addicts just trying to treat one addiction at a time could be very problematic.  In order to increase success in recovery, the meth addict, if they are “sex tweakers,” must address the role sex and/or sex addiction plays in the cravings and triggers for crystal meth.