Every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. The U.S. Department of Justice indicates that alcohol is a factor in approximately 50% of sexual assault cases. While not all of these cases involve drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA), a significant portion may involve alcohol impairing the victim’s ability to consent or resist.
With sexual assaults on the rise on the Mid-Shore, For All Seasons is working during Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April to educate the community on the risks, including being a victim of a DFSA. The mission of the agency’s Sip Safe Campaign, which launched on April 1, is to raise awareness about the risks associated with DFSA while promoting proactive behaviors that enhance personal and community safety. Outreach is being done with local organizations, businesses, and local public and private colleges to ensure that the issue of DFSA is widely recognized and actively addressed.
DFSA occurs when alcohol or drugs are used to compromise an individual’s ability to consent to sexual activity. These substances make it easier for a perpetrator to commit sexual assault because they inhibit a person’s ability to resist and can prevent them from remembering the assault. They include alcohol, Rohypnol, GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid) & GBL (Gamma-Butyrolactone), and Ketamine. These drugs are typically odorless, colorless, and tasteless when placed in a drink. One exception is GBL, which has a bitter taste that can be masked by strong-tasting drinks. Within 30 minutes of ingestion, the individual may struggle to talk or move and may pass out. At this point, the person is vulnerable to assault. Because of the effects of the drug, the victim may have little or no recollection of the events and many victims do not report the crime.
Part of For All Seasons’ initiative includes distributing free informational resources, drink-spiking prevention scrunchies, and drink cover stickers to local college students and bartenders. Among the tips For All Seasons provides include how to identify risky situations when enjoying a night out and how to recognize if a drink has been spiked or tampered with.
Red Flags to Watch in a Perpetrator
- They offer to buy drinks or drugs without invitation and pressure others to consume them.
- They try to separate the victim from their friends or support network.
- Teams of two often work together. One talks, while the other drugs. They “help” the victim out of the bar.
- They insist on being the ones to pour drinks or open bottles.
- They exhibit an unusual interest in someone's vulnerability or impaired state.
Signs of Non-Consensual Drugging
- Dizziness or loss of muscle control/coordination
- Slurred speech
- Memory loss or impairment
- Loss of bowel/bladder control and vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Sudden body temperature change
- Intoxication level does not match the amount of alcohol consumed - "I can't be drunk, I've only had one drink."
For a complete list of tips, visit https://forallseasonsinc.lpages.co/sipsafe/.
According to Kristy Mirando, Director of Victim Services at For All Seasons, “With sexual violence continuing to harm our Mid-Shore children and adults, as a behavioral health agency and rape crisis center, our agency cares about education and prevention. We know that helping youth and adults to understand what sexual assault encompasses is important. Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any unwanted sexual contact. Forms of sexual violence include rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sexual abuse. It also includes a range of behaviors such as unwanted sexual contact or words, online exploitation, exposing oneself to others without consent, and nonconsensual image sharing. We are hoping throughout this month ahead to educate youth and adults about risk and how to avoid situations which may lead to sexual assault.”
If you or someone you know has experienced drug-facilitated sexual assault (or had their drink spiked), we encourage you to call the For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 410-820-5600, go to the hospital, or call the police. It is your choice to report the crime to the police. For All Seasons staff provide support and confidentiality. If you choose to report the crime, staff is available to accompany you to medical, police, and court appointments.
For further information about how you or your business or organization can participate in Sexual Assault Awareness Month, visit https://forallseasonsinc.lpages.co/sipsafe/ or email cpalmer@forallseasonsinc.org.
For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.
