Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault: College Women's Risk Perception and Behavioral Choices

Objective: The authors investigated relationships among prior victimization, risk perceptions, and behavioral choices in responding to drug-facilitated sexual assault in a college party where alcohol is available. Participants and Methods: From fall 2003 to spring 2004, over 400 female undergraduates rated risk perception following ail acquaintance rape vignette. Results: In general, participants tended to perceive the risk of having someone else pour their beers however, they did not tend to perceive the risk of leaving one's beer unattended. Results also indicated that college Students who felt ill at a party were not likely to suspect the presence of a date-rape drug and when sexual assault Occurred, a significant minority of respondents blamed the victim. Victims of prior sexual assault were more likely to report that they would make risky choices, Such as accepting a male acquaintance's offer to help them into their bedroom. Conclusions: Implications for the prevention of sexual assault are discussed.