Overindulgence can lead to sexual violence

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Guest Commentary By Christie DeCaro

Underage and young adult alcohol use has been a growing trend in our society and community, and also a growing problem.

In understanding the damaging effects young adult alcohol use has on the individuals themselves, it is important to look at the tragic events that can take place when alcohol and drugs are abused.

Traffic accidents and arrests for driving while intoxicated aside, these young adults pose a threat to themselves and the community in the form of sexual violence.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, almost 50 percent of all rapes and sexual assaults are committed by an individual under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Paired with the equally frightening statistic that 70 percent of sexual assaults occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., 18-25 year olds who engage in excessive substance use are much more likely to find themselves involved in an act of sexual violence, whether through the commission of a rape or as the victim of a sexual assault.

Too often, our agency, the Women’s Health and Counseling Center, works with individuals, male and female, under the age of 25, who have been the victim of a drug-facilitated sexual assault. Many times, both parties were under the influence when the assault occurred.

Our responsibility as a community is to first recognize that we have a problem. We must then assist in teaching these young adults to be responsible for their actions, inform them of the danger they pose to themselves and others when they disregard the law and drink unsafely.

This is a community issue and it must be addressed to preserve the health and well-being of our youth. Young women and men need to know the potential dangers they inflict upon themselves, when they engage in excessive substance use.

Middle school students as young as 11 have admitted to having parties where alcohol is consumed without parents’ knowledge, and have stated that if a friend drank too much, they would hesitate to call the police at the risk of punishment.

Local high school students have confessed that at a party, they failed to notice that a friend had disappeared, and was later discovered sexually assaulted by an acquaintance.

College students have become accustomed to accepting drinks from unknown individuals at parties in an effort to acquire free beer and liquor. Later, many found themselves in an unknown car, house or dorm room with no recollection of the night before, only the distinct notion that they had been drugged and sexually violated.

So how can we educate our youth to choose more responsible approaches to consumption?

Taking action means we must start with prevention education in the schools, acknowledging peer pressure, identifying positive role models and beginning a dialogue with youth about the dangers of overindulging in alcohol use.

By joining the Somerset’s Initiative for Partying Safely (SIPS)/Healthy Options for Prevention and Education (HOPE) Community Forum on April 28, you can learn how to become a part of the community project to educate youth and being taking action.

The presentation will run from 6-8 p.m. at Raritan Valley Community College.

The change must begin with us, and it must begin now, in order to prevent further tragedy resulting from the over-consumption of alcohol that ultimately affects all members of our community.
 

Christie DeCaro is the Outreach & Education Coordinator with Sexual Assault Support Services at the Women’s Health & Counseling Center