2.5.1.1 Warning Signs of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

After drug-facilitated sexual assault, a survivor often wakes up confused and wondering what happened beforehand.

They may start to remember parts of the assault and that they did not consent to what happened, whether or not they explicitly said ‘no’. They may feel angry and hurt or embarrassed and ashamed.

Survivors often withdraw and do not want to talk about or address the sexual assault immediately, although getting early support is crucial to recovery.

Warning signs of drug-facilitated sexual assault include, but are not limited to:

  1. Feeling significantly more intoxicated than is consistent with the quantity of drugs or alcohol consumed;

  2. A familiar drink tasting strange or salty (this might not be noticeable if the drink is sugary);

  3. A bystander or friend intruding to offer help that would put them alone with the person they are helping;

  4. Lingering after-effects of intoxication that last longer than usual (i.e. all day or several days);

  5. Waking up refreshed with no memory of what happened the night before, including how one arrived at their current location;

  6. Missing large chunks of memory from the night before;

  7. Hallucinations, including feelings of floating and thinking one is experiencing things that do not make sense;

  8. A sudden collapse or head snap;

  9. A loss of muscle control;

  10. Teeth grinding; and

  11. Feeling overheated and thirsty.

Although there are many pharmaceutical substances that can be used for drug-facilitated sexual assault, alcohol is by far the most common.