A Scoping Review of Global Literature on Alcohol and Other Drug-Facilitated Sexual Violence

Jessica Ison; Ingrid Wilson; Kirsty Forsdike; Jacqui Theobald; Elena Wilson; Anne-Marie Laslett; Leesa Hooker

doi:10.1177/15248380241297349

A Scoping Review of Global Literature on Alcohol and Other Drug-Facilitated Sexual Violence

Trauma Violence Abuse. 2024 Nov 19:15248380241297349. doi: 10.1177/15248380241297349. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jessica Ison¹, Ingrid Wilson², Kirsty Forsdike¹, Jacqui Theobald¹, Elena Wilson¹, Anne-Marie Laslett³, Leesa Hooker^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
² Health and Social Sciences Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore, Singapore.
³ Center for Alcohol and Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁴ Judith Lumley Center and La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

PMID: 39559985
DOI: 10.1177/15248380241297349

Abstract

The use of alcohol or other drugs to facilitate sexual violence (AOD-facilitated sexual violence) is a public health concern. There are significant gaps in knowledge on victimization, perpetration, contexts, impacts, and attitudes. Using a scoping review method, we mapped existing peer-reviewed, global literature to examine what is known about AOD-facilitated sexual violence to inform the development of AOD-facilitated sexual violence targeted interventions. We searched databases such as: Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, ProQuest, PubMed, and EBSCO. Studies were included if they examined sexual violence where alcohol and/or other drugs were opportunistically or proactively used to facilitate sexual offending, within intimate partner and non-intimate partner (acquaintance or stranger) relationships. We reviewed 53 articles and mapped the findings to five knowledge areas: (1) prevalence; (2) victim-survivors and perpetrators; (3) location, nature, and substance used; (4) predictors, risk factors, and impacts; and (5) representations and attributions of blame. Although conclusions are difficult to draw due to the limited disparate literature, our review extends existing knowledge, highlighting that perpetrators are often known to victim-survivors, AOD-facilitated sexual violence also occurs in private locations, and alcohol is a common substance utilized in AOD-facilitated sexual violence (though its role is complex). Troubling myths and misconceptions about victim-survivors and negative representations in the media affect attributions of blame, particularly in cases where victim-survivors voluntarily consume substances. To inform interventions, this review identifies the need for consistent definitions and measurement of AOD-facilitated sexual violence, greater diversity of experiences, and the need to challenge attitudes that blame victim-survivors where substances are involved.

Keywords: alcohol and drugs; anything related to sexual assault; date rape; drink spiking; drug-facilitated sexual assault; sexual assault; trauma; women.

Publication types

Review