BDSM and drugs (including alcohol) are two different areas that should not be mixed together to ensure safe and responsible practice. Although substances can have a relaxing effect for some people, combining them with BDSM carries potential risks and dangers.
Don’t drink and kink!
Firstly, substances can impair perception and reduce judgement. This can lead to boundaries not being communicated clearly or being misunderstood. In BDSM, clear communication is important to ensure that all parties are consensual and give consent.
Secondly, drugs can impair physical responsiveness and coordination. In BDSM practices that may involve pain or physical exertion, it is important that participants are able to perceive and respond to their physical sensations appropriately to avoid injury.
Thirdly, substances can reduce the ability to assess risks. This can lead to ill-considered decisions being made that can have negative consequences. In BDSM, it is crucial to mitigate risks and take appropriate safety precautions to protect the physical and emotional health of all involved.
For all these reasons, it is advisable to avoid drugs during BDSM. Instead, it is advisable to be sober and lucid in order to ensure a safe and responsible practice. Open communication, consent and setting clear boundaries and safewords should always be at the forefront of facilitating a positive and safe BDSM experience.
SSC and Chems does not work
SSC – our basic BDSM safety system is based on the condition that we always play safe, sane and consensual. This means that, according to the “sane”, we commit ourselves to act reasonably and to use our mental abilities to the full. Although this may sound playful, it is essential to ensure maximum safety, pleasure and enjoyment.
Under the influence of drugs, however, we become less sensitive. Our caution decreases, we take more risks or act impulsively. Of course, we do not normally lose control completely after a beer or a small amount of another substance. Nevertheless, our inhibition threshold may drop, even if we do it unconsciously. Moreover, once we start drinking, we tend to take a second or third glass. It doesn’t take long to reach a certain alcohol level or high. Sometimes we also drink too quickly, for example to empty the glass quickly before the start. As a result, the effect occurs more quickly than expected. Even if we think we can still take it, the risk increases.
It is important to understand that safety in BDSM is of great importance, and that avoiding substances during a BDSM session helps to ensure this safety. To minimise the risk of injury or unforeseen complications, it is advisable to be calm and clear-headed. This enables us to act responsibly, maintain clear communication and make appropriate decisions to ensure a positive and safe BDSM experience.
Substances affect and push boundaries
BDSM is often about letting go, letting go of inhibitions and breaking taboos. We surrender to the game and enjoy the session. It may seem tempting to use the appropriate drugs to get into a relaxed mood. Especially for people who don’t have much experience with each other or who are just getting their first experience of BDSM, the idea might come up that alcohol, for example, helps to reduce the excitement.
However, these feelings, nervousness and concerns are part of the process. They should not be deceived. For only when we clearly feel how we feel can we recognise, for example, red flags. Substances can unintentionally speed up the pace in new relationships. However, especially in the beginning, it is important to take small steps and to be aware of what is wanted and what is not.
For more experienced couples who are already in tune, a glass of wine may be just as much a part of a nice evening as BDSM.
“Don’t drink and kink”
Because even if we don’t get drunk or consume many substances, alcohol and drugs still act as a catalyst. Boundaries that were clear in the past can shift or not be recognised in time. Just when we feel that we are already well-adjusted, we can become more risk-taking and careless. No matter how well we know ourselves and our partner: With substances in the blood, we are more inclined to overestimate ourselves and misinterpret signals, compared to when we are naked.
It is also important not to neglect the effects of substances on our bodies. Under the influence of drugs, our reaction time deteriorates. Our circulation becomes unstable, and our perception is impaired. Some people suffer from nausea, while others have problems with their sense of balance. Or there may be unforeseen interactions between substances. All these are not ideal conditions for BDSM. In addition, there is a risk that we may not be able to assess our power and control well, which can lead to unsafe situations.
It is also dangerous when a person under the influence of drugs can no longer safely recognise their physical (and mental) limits. On the other hand, limits may be reached much faster than normal when drunk and intoxicated. Even at low levels of consumption, our reaction time is already impaired. Especially in situations where something goes wrong, a quick reaction or release is required.
Consent under the influence of drugs?! Hardly!
It is important to refrain from using drugs before or during a session in the spirit of consent. Because agreeing to a practice in a drunken state that you would normally refuse is not consensual. You always have a responsibility to yourself and to your play partners. Would you want to play with someone if you could not be sure if their agreement was just due to their own impatience?
If a person insists on drinking alcohol or using other drugs to lighten the mood, or repeatedly points to it, that is a warning sign. It may be that, in established relationships, it is acceptable for some people to consume substances in moderation before a session. However, if the glass of wine is an integral part of the session, this may be questionable, as playing exclusively under the influence of alcohol for an extended period of time is neither “sane” nor “safe”. However, these individuals always act at their own risk and should not be used as role models.
|