Definitely. When you�re drinking or taking drugs, you�re judgment is messed up and you�re much more likely to make bad decisions. That means having sex with the wrong person, when you aren�t really ready and/or without using condoms and birth control.

A mistake like that can end in pregnancy and disease.

Alcohol and drugs also cause you to lose your inhibitions � the feelings that make you stop and think before doing something. So, you�re much more likely to do something you will regret � and that could have bad consequences. Even if you don�t end having a pregnancy or sexually-transmitted infection to worry about, you might just feel awful about the things you did while drunk or on drugs. And that affects the way you feel about yourself.

Another danger of drinking and taking drugs is being a victim of rape or sexual assault. When you�re high or drunk, you�re less likely to protect yourself or pick up on signals that you might be in trouble.

And here�s the kicker. Studies show that alcohol and drug abuse can cause problems in your physical ability to have sex, including impotence (when a guy can�t get an erection) and vaginal dryness.