Our thanks to Michelle Harris, Outreach Advocate for Sexual Assault Support Services of Maine, for submitting the following blog post.
Research presented at the latest Five Town CTC
Coalition meeting highlighted the fact that underage alcohol consumption is a major
concern to our communities. It is important to bring to light some of the not
so obvious and yet related risks to this data that may affect our children in
dangerous and potentially long-lasting ways.
The issue of sexual assault and alcohol
consumption may appear to be worlds apart, when in fact there is evidence that
shows a relationship between the two. Some of these relationships may be
obvious common sense, while others may be new and just as alarming. Extensive
information on this relationship can be found at http://www.vawnet.org
Let’s look at the first possibility of an
offender providing and encouraging alcohol consumption in an effort to reduce
an intended target’s resistance and inhibitions. The influence of alcohol can
impair the judgment of a person, who can then find him or herself in a
dangerous situation, potentially being faced with a person who will not take no
for an answer. Furthermore, if enough alcohol is consumed, a person may
entirely lose the ability to give consent at all, which to an offender who has
preplanned this event, is exactly the opportunity he or she was trying to
create.
A person may also use alcohol as a way to reduce
his or her own inhibitions relating to respecting another person’s boundaries
and right to say no. This can be used as a convenient excuse after things have
gone too far, after a victim has said no, but whose wishes have gone unheard
and are ignored.
There are emotional repercussions after a sexual
assault, particularly one in which alcohol consumption was a factor. If a
survivor had been drinking and was sexually assaulted, there can be feelings of
guilt and self-blame, in spite of the fact that the person committing acts of
sexual aggression is entirely responsible for his or her actions.
A person who has been drinking and was sexually
assaulted can be apt to minimize the event, again taking on deep feelings of
guilt and of shame. When a survivor reports a crime such as this to the police,
a crime in which one or both parties were consuming alcohol, the case can
become that much more complex. If a survivor’s blood alcohol level is found to
be high enough to suggest that he or she was not in physical condition to provide
consent, this can serve as evidence of that person being incapacitated.
There is
another perspective to the relationship between alcohol consumption and sexual
assault. That is the fact that if a person is also a survivor of child sexual
assault, alcohol consumption can be used as a coping mechanism. This increases
the risk of being sexually assaulted once again, perhaps by “lowering the
ability to perceive risk as the intoxication level increases.” (Norris, J., 2008, December).
Underage
drinking is something that we as parents and community members are rightfully
concerned about. It is important to not only look at the issue on the surface,
but also to examine the hidden risks involved, if we are to make effective and
lasting changes.
Finally,
and most importantly, there is absolutely no circumstance or excuse that ever
gives a person the right to sexually assault another person. Sexual assault is
a serious crime that should be taken seriously and at no time is a victim at
fault.
There are
some great tips for parents of teens located at http://www.maineparents.net.
References:
Norris, J. (2008,
December).
The Relationship Between
Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Violence. Harrisburg, PA: VAWnet,
a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence/Pennsylvania Coalition
Against Domestic Violence. Retrieved February 28, 2013 from:
a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence/Pennsylvania Coalition
Against Domestic Violence. Retrieved February 28, 2013 from:
Resource:
Sexual
Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine
24 hour support line:
1-800-822-5999
