Sex, Drugs and HIV

Mark Wahlberg's portrayal of Dirk Diggler in 1997's "Boogie Nights" depicted the porn industry in the late 70's and early 80's as having plenty of drugs and alcohol accompanying the blatant display of sexual immorality.

Along with this behavior came a storyline filled with confusion, jealousy, rage and even suicide, none of which are unrealistic since that's what the mix of drugs and sex begets, even before the discovery of the HIV virus.

Drug use broods promiscuity and perversion and sometimes visa versa.  A common myth among both adolescents and adults is that certain drugs can enhance sexual feelings and performance.  The fact is that drugs actually dull the senses, even sexual sensations, as they are masked, altered and deadened from the chemicals, if not physically at first, then emotionally. 

In his New York Times bestseller Clear Body Clear Mind, L. Ron Hubbard wrote this:

"Dexterity, ability and alertness are the main things that prevent getting into painful situations and a primary target of these vanish with drugs.  So drugs set you up to get into situations that are truly disastrous and keep you that way.  One has a choice between being essentially dead with drugs or alive without them.  Drugs rob life of the sensations and joys that are the only reasons for living."

Narconon Arrowhead, one of the nation's largest and most successful rehabilitation centers, works with addicts from all over the country and one commonality is that most of these people have created seriously unwanted conditions in all areas of their lives because of their drug use, or started using drugs in an attempt to cope with those situations.  True rehabilitation requires not just 'clean time' or counseling, but a teaching of life skills to handle one's environment and an understanding of ethics, morals, personal values and integrity.

Fast-forward more than twenty years and the porn industry, bigger than ever, still has its array of conflict, which is not surprising.  Filming has been halted because of HIV infections.  The latest to have contracted the virus was a 26-year-old woman, who is now having to face the consequences of the lifestyle.

For those who seek treatment for the virus and their addiction, the complexity in dealing with both issues can be very difficult.  A pharmaceutical regimen of compound drugs is often what is used in treating HIV.  The main problem with this is that the drugs themselves cause serious side effects that can negatively impact the patient, who then is prescribed more drugs to deal with these side effects.  At this point it is a dual struggle to fight succumbing to one or the other, or both.

Sex, drugs and HIV, it is a vicious cycle that most people can't escape once they're caught up in it.

Though effective long-term treatments are necessary now, the only way to eradicate substance abuse and HIV is to have workable prevention messages and programs as an ongoing action along with an accurate teaching of ethics and morals. 

To get help for a loved one addicted to drugs or to find out more information, contact Narconon Arrowhead today at 1-800-468-6933 or log on to www.stopaddiction.com

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