Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) is a serious form of sexual violence that remains underreported and clouded by myths that blame victims instead of holding perpetrators accountable. This violation of bodily autonomy is never the survivor’s fault—because everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and in control of their own body.
What Is Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA)?
Drug-facilitated sexual assault happens when someone uses drugs or alcohol to make another person unable to consent to sexual activity. These substances lower inhibitions, impair judgment, and can prevent a person from resisting or remembering what happened. DFSA is a crime—and it’s never the survivor’s fault.
How DFSA Is Perpetrated
No matter how DFSA is perpetrated, the goal is always the same: to make someone easier to control. There are two main ways this kind of sexual assault occurs:
- A perpetrator takes advantage of someone who is voluntarily using alcohol or drugs.
- A perpetrator intentionally gives someone drugs or alcohol without their knowledge or against their will.
Many survivors—especially on college campuses—experience more subtle, coercive forms of drug-facilitated assault. Though the media often highlights cases where drugs are secretly slipped into drinks, alcohol is the most common substance used to perpetrate this kind of assault.
Examples of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault
- Pressuring someone to drink or use drugs beyond their comfort level
- Ignoring someone who says they feel unwell or overly intoxicated
- Initiating sexual contact with someone who is visibly drunk or high
- Refusing to disclose the contents of a drink or how much of the substance has been added
- Intentionally drugging someone to make them more vulnerable
Who Is at Risk?
Drug-facilitated sexual assault can happen to anyone. Survivors often share stories of confusion, disbelief, and self-blame. But let’s be clear: Choosing to drink or use drugs does not mean you are choosing to be assaulted. Only you have the right to make decisions about your body.
10 Key Statistics for Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault
The following data was outlined in a 2023 review of research focused on drug-facilitated sexual assault: (1)
- Prevalence in women: 12% of women over the age of 18 in the U.S. reported being raped while incapacitated by drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives.
- College campus data: Among U.S. college students, 11% of women and 3% of men reported being sexually assaulted while incapacitated since entering college.
- Substance detection rates: In a U.S. toxicology study of 1,000 DFSA cases, 78.4% tested positive for at least one substance.
- Most common drug: Alcohol is the most frequently detected substance in DFSA cases, both in voluntary and involuntary contexts.
- Victim profile: Most victims are young women under the age of 30. Some studies reported the most frequent age group as 18–24.
- Assailant profile: Nearly all assailants are men. Studies show rates from 98.3% to 100% male perpetrators.
- Relationship to victim: In most cases, the assailant was someone the victim knew. One study found 79.4% of victims knew the perpetrator prior to the assault.
- Location of assault: DFSA most often occurs in private residences, particularly the assailant’s home.
- Timing: Assaults are more likely to occur at night and on weekends. One study noted 40.7% occurred between Saturday and Sunday.
- Detection of other drugs: Besides alcohol, benzodiazepines and cannabis are the most commonly detected substances in DFSA cases. Cocaine is the second most frequently used illicit drug, and GHB has a lower but notable presence.
Signs You May Have Been Drugged
If you or someone you know experiences the following symptoms, get to a safe place and seek help immediately:
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling drunk after little or no alcohol
- Blurred vision or sudden dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of control over bodily functions
- Confusion or memory loss
- Drastic body temperature changes
What to Do If You Suspect You Were Drugged
If you think you may have been drugged, time is critical. These substances often leave the body within 12 to 72 hours. To help preserve evidence:
- Save your urine in a clean, sealable container and refrigerate or freeze it
- Avoid showering or changing clothes if possible
- Contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline or locate a sexual assault service provider near you for help finding a hospital or medical provider that offers forensic exams and toxicology testing
DFSA Is Not Your Fault
Survivors of drug-facilitated sexual assault often carry shame and self-blame. But please remember: you are not to blame. Using drugs or alcohol does not mean you are asking to be harmed. The responsibility lies solely with the person who committed the assault.
You deserve safety. You deserve support. You deserve to be believed.
Sources
(1) Recalde-Esnoz, I., Prego-Meleiro, P., Montalvo, G., & del Castillo, H. (2023). Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault: A Systematic Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(3), 1814-1825. (2024).
Last updated: August 12, 2025