Date rape drugs and sexual assault: perception of college level students
Current literature indicates that the use of substances such as drugs and alcohol, particularly by youths, can lead to a state of vulnerability propitious to sexual assault, but that it is alcohol that has generally been linked to abuse. However, lack of recollection that can result from excessive consumption has been portrayed in the media as an effect of “date rape drugs”, such as GHB. Studies also suggest some links between rape myths acceptance and sexual assault. Therefore, the goals of the current study were to verify the perceptions held by college level students from the Montreal area in regards to substances linked to sexual assault. Possible relations between the existing rape myths and the frequency of substance abuse leading to amnesia were also explored. According to the youths who participated in the current study, GHB represent the drug most often linked to rape, even if alcohol was also identified. Moreover, results revealed that the group of youths who acknowledged often forgetting parts of an evening due to excessive use of drugs or alcohol tended to hold a greater amount of false beliefs regarding rape, in comparison to the others. Among our recommendations, we should explore the links between substance use and sexual assault to establish a causal relation between the two factors. Also, it would be beneficial to include information regarding the use of substances within the sexual assault prevention programs.