Facts you need to know about sexual assault:
Jul 5, 2011 by Sally Sheppard
Acquaintance Rape occurs when someone is forced into some sexual activity against their will by someone they know. The perpetrator may be a friend, date, neighbor, partner, spouse or someone they’ve just met.
Of 115 adult clients at The Cottage in 2010, 90% were assaulted by an acquaintance
People who have been raped may feel ashamed and may blame themselves. They often feel they were somehow responsible, or that they should have been able to prevent the rape. Depression is common after acquaintance rape and may interfere with the person’s daily
routine. There may be an inability to sleep, as well as trust issues. Many will never tell anyone. All of these reactions are understandable, but very isolating to the victim.
Who is at fault?
• The person who rapes is responsible.
• If the sex was forced or coerced it was rape. If threats were made, it was rape. It does not matter if there were injuries or not. It does not matter if you didn’t fight back. It does not matter if you’ve had sex with the perpetrator before. It does not matter if you had been drinking alcohol or using substances. It does not matter if you had planned to have sex and then changed your mind.
If sex was not consensual then it was rape and rape is a crime.
Drug and/or Alcohol Facilitated Rape is when a victim is subjected to a sexual act due to the incapacitating effects of alcohol and/or drugs. The effects of these substances prevent the victim from legally consenting.
Perpetrators may use substances like Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Clonopin), Opiates, Antihistamines, sleep aids and ecstasy. Every single person is different in how they react to these substances. Many factors play into how our bodies react including what we’ve eaten or not eaten, what substances are already in our system and how quickly our system metabolizes substances.
Question: What substance is most commonly used?
Answer: Alcohol
Here’s why…
Consuming alcohol, often in mass quantities, is socially accepted.
Drinking alcohol is a legal activity if the individual is of age.
Alcohol is usually ingested voluntarily.
Tagged: sexual assault, the cottage, aquaintance rape, predatory drug facilitated rape