Is Alcohol a Date Rape Drug?

by | May 30, 2022 | 0 comments

It’s no longer about drinks spiked with white powder. Alcohol too can be a potent date rape drug.

Dating is exciting. The kind that brings butterflies to your stomach when you meet someone new for the first time. It’s a great way to know other people who could potentially qualify as a romantic partner. Dating is supposed to be fun and lighthearted but when there’s coercion or threat of sexual assault involved, then it’s an entirely different story. It’s called date rape.

But although commonly referred to as  “date rape” the perpetrator doesn’t necessarily have to be in a relationship, or on a date, with the victim.

What is Date Rape?

Date rape is a form of sexual assault where the woman is forced to have sexual intercourse by a male acquaintance during a voluntary social engagement. Also called as acquaintance rape, the perpetrator may know the victim casually or intimately and may or may not have an established social or romantic relationship with the victim. The coerced sexual activity occurs under shady circumstances such as when an individual is unable to give consent to the sexual act, for reasons like intoxication or unconsciousness.

It emphasizes  ” the importance of all involved parties giving consent—with the understanding that consent can be withdrawn at any time—before sexual activity takes place”.

The main premise of date rape is that although the victim and the aggressor know each other, no consent was given by the victim to participate in the sexual act. The nature of the assault may likely involve more coercion than force. 

Alcohol as Date Rape Drug

Date rape is often portrayed as a picture of someone covertly slipping a pill or white powder in the drink of an unsuspecting victim. However, studies show that in most cases of date rape, alcohol is used primarily to intoxicate the victims. 

Date rape drugs like Rohypnol and Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) are also used but according to the study ” just over a quarter of the cases in the study tested positive for recreational drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines and heroin”. 

Other researches include a study in the UK in 2005. Forensic scientists ran blood and urine tests for telltale markers of various drugs where drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) was suspected. Their findings show that the drug most commonly found was alcohol, often in high concentrations. Another study in Wales also found no evidence of drink spiking but excessive levels of alcohol consumption and frequent illicit drug use were detected.

Alcohol is a very potent substance. It may not be as toxic as other hard recreational drugs like ecstasy and heroin but its effects are fatal nonetheless.  It can cause memory impairment, and blackouts and can induce reckless behaviors. And if combined with other drugs, these dangerous effects can be magnified to a deadly degree. 

Alcohol is often blamed as the culprit of sexual assault and for very good reasons: when someone gets drunk or intoxicated, logical thinking gets impaired and making sound decisions suddenly become very difficult. This makes the victim vulnerable to sexual assault as they will not be able to defend themselves. Confusion, unconsciousness and blackouts make matters worse. 

Partners in Recovery

There is no justification for sexual assault.  However, steps can be taken in order to ensure that we don’t fall prey to this felony. Social drinking can still be fun as long as mindful drinking is practiced. Know your limit and be conscious of your alcohol consumption. Talk to your support system, and seek the help of experts like Heal@Home.

Heal@Home has the best resources when it comes to alcohol abuse and its serious effects on the body and the relationships around you. Certified counselors will teach you how to reduce your consumption to a safe level that you’re truly comfortable with. Check out Heal@Home’s alcohol therapy programs. It could be what you’re looking for.

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