It’s more than just a coincidence that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and also Alcohol Awareness Month. Across cultures, the links between sexual assault and alcohol are numerous and troubling. They exacerbate each other with a strong association between alcohol misuse and becoming either a perpetrator or a victim of violence.
According to information found on the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) website alcohol misuse is a risk factor for becoming a perpetrator of violence. Alcohol misuse is also a consequence of being a victim of sexual violence:
In one study, 58% of men imprisoned for rape reported having consumed alcohol in the six hours preceding the offense. 37% were considered to be alcohol dependent.
Evidence from trauma reports of assaults indicates that as many as 25% of victims reporting assaults had alcohol in their system at the time of the assault.
Victims of sexual violence report higher levels of emotional distress and higher levels of alcohol consumption in attempts to deal with this distress. Victims of sexual violence are 15-20 times more likely to use drugs and/or alcohol than non-victims.
The CDC lists alcohol use as one of 5 risk factors that increase the likelihood of sexual violence perpetration (the others are: being male, having sexually aggressive friends, witnessing violence at a young age and being exposed to social norms that support sexual violence)
Why it matters: The sobering statistics of alcohol and sexual abuse:
United States Sexual Assault Facts (NSVRC):
- It is estimated that one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime
- 13% of males will be sexually assaulted in his lifetime.
- 89% of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows.
- The cost of sexual assault to Americans is estimated to be $127 billion, the highest of all crimes, and this does not include the costs associated with childhood sexual abuse.
United States Alcohol Facts:
- An estimated 35% of violence is related to alcohol
- According to drug rehabs.org 50% of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related and
- Over 15 million Americans are dependent on alcohol. 500,000 of them are between ages 9-12.
- According to Forbes, the United States spends over $185 billion each year on alcohol abuse
Every American is impacted by alcohol and sexual abuse. The links below are of local agencies that can provide information and support. Most of these agencies accept donations and/or need volunteers. Consider making a difference in your community.
Valley Hope Association Alcohol and drug related treatment
Alcoholics Anonymous Sobriety Fellowship Organization
AzSan Arizona Sexual Assault Network
CASA Center for Prevention of Abuse and Violence
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