More than 20 percent of sexual assaults drug-facilitated

	Tweet

More than 20% of sexual assaults in a sample of 882 victims were drug-facilitated sexual assaults, found a new study published in CMAJ http://www.cmaj.ca/press/pg513.pdf. Victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault were more likely than others to present to a large urban centre and to be employed, and to have consumed over-the-counter medications, street drugs, and alcohol before the assault.

Few studies have systematically measured the occurrence of drug-facilitated sexual assault and little is known about the victim profile, although this type of assault appears to have increased over the past 10 years.

The study, a collaboration between researchers from Women’s College Research Institute in Toronto and the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, looked at data from 7 of these hospital-based centres. These centres served both rural and urban populations 24 hours, 7 days a week.

According to the self-reported data, 30% of victims had taken prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications (26%) and street drugs (27%) in the previous 72 hours before the assault. Almost 90% had consumed alcohol immediately before. “These types of substances have pharmacologic properties that can alter states of consciousness and lower inhibitions, especially when used simultaneously with alcohol and in their own right may be used to spike drinks,” write Dr. Janice Du Mont and coauthors. “As such, victims could have unwittingly ingested a “date rape drug,"” although the combination of alcohol and drugs could also result in incapacitation.

The largest age group represented was 20-24 years (36%) followed by 16-19 years (23%).

The authors conclude that education and public awareness campaigns regarding the effects of alcohol, especially combined with drugs, is needed to help combat the problem.

In a related commentary http://www.cmaj.ca/press/pg493.pdf, Dr. Jan Welch and Dr. Bernadette Butler from King’s College Hospital in London, UK write “for clinicians caring for victims of sexual assault, a non-judgemental approach is essential. It is important to recognize the possibility of drug-facilitated sexual assault and provide the necessary therapeutic care while addressing forensic issues when possible, including evidence collection and documentation.”

They also urge education for men and women to help them understand potential risks as victims and possible assailants as well as the different biological responses to alcohol and drugs.

###

Please credit CMAJ, not the Canadian Medical Association. CMAJ is an independent medical journal; views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of its owner, the CMA.

Contact: Kim Barnhardt

613-731-8610 x2224
Canadian Medical Association Journal

RELATED STORIES:
63 percent of women report sexual problems with orgasm proving biggest issue in teens and 20s   Little safe haven for sexually assaulted LGBTQ victims   Maxi-K Gene Transfer may Prove to be Safe and Effective Erectile Dysfunction Treatment   Oral drug therapy for erectile dysfunction   STDs Found In 25% of Teenage Girls   Sexual behaviour at work still a problem shows new study from Rotman School   New Protein Could Provide Insight into Male Fertility   How much do you need to know about your spouse’s previous sex life?   New pill puts romance and spontaneity back into sex   Teenagers attending college less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior   Men with disabilities 4 times more likely to be sexually abused than men without disabilities   Partners, too, give thumbs up to Levitra   Psychologist Aims to Reduce Risky Sexual Behavior Among African American Girls   Erectile dysfunction treatments do not appear to damage vision over 6 months   Obesity, smoking raises impotence risk

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]