Fact Sheet

Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault

In recent years, drug-facilitated sexual assault has become a growing concern among health and community educators. A number of drugs have become known as 'Date Rape' drugs or 'predatory drugs' because they are used to incapacitate individuals for the purposes of committing a crime, often sexual assault.

Alcohol is the drug most commonly associated with sexual assault, but incidents involving other drugs are on the rise. These drugs, also called "club drugs" because of their popularity in dance clubs and bars, can be unknowingly given to a victim, incapacitate the victim, and prevent him/her from resisting during a sexual assault or other crime. They can also produce amnesia causing a victim to be unclear of what, if any, crime was committed.

These drugs are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol. As with any coerced sexual activity, victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault cannot protect themselves from HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases, or unintended pregnancy.