25 Jul What Percentage Of College Sexual Assaults Involve Alcohol?
Sexual assault on college campuses is an issue that has received growing attention in recent years from students, parents, and educators alike. As universities and schools begin to reopen, it’s important to understand the role alcohol plays in sexual assault as well as campuses in general. Keep reading to learn what percentage of college sexual assaults involve alcohol and how you can get help for yourself or a loved one.
Table of Contents:
What leads college students to drink?
Alcohol on college campuses is typically regarded as the cause of problems rather than an attempt to fix them. But the reality is that it’s overwhelming to be in a new place with so many new responsibilities, leading many students to turn to binge drinking in order to cope.
Binge drinking is defined as excessive drinking in a short period of time that results in one’s blood alcohol content (BAC) to be 0.08 or higher (0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 grams of blood). Typically, this means consuming 4 or more drinks within 2 hours, though it should be noted that someone’s size and other health conditions can affect how quickly their BAC rises. Of the approximately 80% of students who consume alcohol while in college, 50% will engage in binge drinking. For students who are able to maintain a healthy relationship with alcohol, drinking can be associated with relaxation and fond memories.
For others, binge drinking can become a crutch to deal with other issues. The stress of a demanding class schedule, pressure to perform, and having to learn to live with strangers can all bring a young adult to a breaking point. Other issues facing university students that can drive them to self-medicate with alcohol include:
Social anxiety and insecurity
Scholarship and grant requirements
Relationship trauma
Balancing work, internships, extracurriculars, and classes
The statistics on college sexual assault and alcohol
The statistics on the involvement of alcohol in sexual assault among college students are grim:
| Percentage | Statistics |
|---|---|
| 74% | of perpetrators and victims reported drinking alcohol at the time of the incident |
| 90% | of cases involved someone the victim knew |
| 50% | of cases occurring on a date |
| 81% | of sexual assaults involving alcohol where both victim and perpetrator drank |
| 42% | of college women did not report sexual assault, citing reasons including fear of poor treatment |
| Less than 5% | of men reported being victims of sexual assault |
Because alcohol can impair your perception and reasoning, it can make conversations surrounding consent difficult to navigate when both people involved are intoxicated. You may not be able to accurately assess how drunk the other person is if you have already intoxicated yourself. And peer pressure can have a bigger influence on you than if you were sober, which can make it even more difficult to navigate the situation.
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If you or someone you love may have an alcohol dependency problem, Elite Home Detox can help. We offer in-home, medically managed detox services that allow you to take steps towards sobriety without having to check in to a clinic.
Now that you know what percentage of college sexual assaults involve alcohol, you may be worried about a loved one who is struggling with alcohol use. We also offer Intervention Specialist services to help you communicate effectively with your loved one and motivate them to get help. Not only are these services convenient, they are discrete, meaning that you can get the help you need without damaging your prospects or future.
We know you have questions, and we’re ready with answers – call or click the button below to make an appointment today!