Corrupt or corrupts

Shue it might depend on context. Where "sex and drugs" is considered a unit, then singular. For instance one might consider sex and drugs v abstinence and herbal tea

Neither, it's bloody religion.

However, if this is a grammar question either:

Sex and drugs are what corrupts our youth.

or

Sex and drugs corrupt our youth

or

Sex and drugs are what corrupts our youth

I prefer either of the latter. The are what is unnecessary, it adds nothing to the meaning and should be left out.

Sex and drugs would be a unit requiring the singular if they were done together, e.g. smoking a marijuana cigarette and then having sex while stoned*. Otherwise they would be separate and the plural would be called for.

*This can be fun, however smoking a marijuana cigarette and having sex at the same time is not to be recommended; it can lead to burns to the participants and the bedclothes.

How the hell is that "bloody religion?" A life of sex and drugs often leads to a life of misery and corruption. Sex sometimes results in disease. Drugs, including pharmaceuticals, can lead to mental illness and spending all your cash on illegal substances that you become dependent on. You don't have to be a scientist to figure that one out, bud. How deluded are you? It was just a sample sentence.

And I gave you an answer, but despite that you've gone nutzoid. Do you need medication?

Why don't we stay objective? Isn't that the point of the forum? How is my sample sentence religious drivel?

I never said it was, it was just a light hearted comment, after which I gave you the answer. Instead of saying thank you, you acted like someone had stuck a cattle prod up your arse.

I can only assume you are a religious nutter after all.

I'm not a religious nutter. I am religious, but my post had nothing to do with my beliefs, and I thought your comment really strayed from what this site is about. It is called "able2know" right? So shouldn't we be a little more objective rather than disparaging religion, which is neither objective or subjective, with asinine statements? Thank you for your answer, though.

People often make jokes on A2K, if you can't accept that you won't have much fun.

Why do you prefer either of the latter to the first line?

Using "and" adds subjects to make them plural. When "and" comes nouns in a compound subject, the verb should be plural, even though each subject may be plural alone.

(Keep in mind that some singular, phrasal nouns have "and" in them. For clarity, these are often (but not always) connected with a hyphen:

Rock-and-roll is...
Bacon and eggs is a common breakfast.)

Ex:
A and B corrupt...

If you used "or" instead, it would separate subjects. In that case, choose the number value of the one closer to the verb and make the verb agree.

Ex:

Sex or drugs corrupt... ("drugs" is plural so the verb should agree with it)
Drugs or sex corrupts... ("sex" is singular, so the verb agrees with it)