Consumption and sexual assault: Assessment of a preventive intervention in a college
The literature establishes a link between drug and alcohol consumption and sexual assault. Alcohol is the substance most often used during a sexual assault. However, the perception of young people remains associated with GHB when addressing the issue of date rape drugs. The main goal of the study was to examine the effects of a preventive intervention on the knowledge of college students concerning substances that can facilitate a sexual assault. 623 students participated in the intervention and completed the pre- and post-test questionnaires, while 247 students were in the control group. The results showed that the intervention had a positive effect on the post-test results. Participants focused more on alcohol as the substance the most often used to facilitate sexual assaults. Moreover, they recognized the role of the consumption as a risk factor to such assault. The results also indicated that participants in the intervention group were not unanimous in referring to alcohol as the substance most often used to facilitate an assault. They tended to mention other substances such as certain medications combined with alcohol. The results suggest considering the utility of addressing several substances which could, according to the participants, be used in a context of sexual assault. It appears that, in the intervention, it would be better to detail the role of alcohol and the context of its use in creating a dynamic of assault. In addition, information should cover a sexual relationship without consent or forced, so that it corresponds to the reality of youth at the college level. These distinctions could then be highlighted to discuss the level of alcohol consumption according to the quantity ingested, the consumer’s gender and the context of the consumption.