Background

Emerging adulthood along with starting third-level education is a period of considerable change for young people. Newly independent, it is also a key time for them to experiment with drugs, alcohol, and sexual intimacy, which when combined increases the risk of sexual violence.

Sexual violence in third-level education

Examination of sexual violence in third-level settings has found that it is a common occurrence and potentially on the rise.1 The evidence strongly indicates the role that alcohol plays in many incidents of sexual violence,2 but the involvement of drugs in this is less clear, particularly specific drug types. Given that the majority of students in Ireland report hazardous drinking patterns and that illegal drug use is rising among this population, a 2023 study sought to examine if the risk of sexual violence is increased by alcohol and drug use among a population of third-level students and, if so, which drug types are more likely to be associated with it.3

Methods

A sample of first-year third-level students from 21 higher education institutions (n=1778) aged 18–25 years was surveyed using the Sexual Experiences Survey, a collaborative study carried out by the Active* Consent programme at the University of Galway and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). A version of the Administrator–Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3) questionnaire was used to assess issues of sexual violence among third-level students.4

More respondents were female (67%) and almost one-half of the sample were aged 19 years (48%). Students completed information on their gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, relationship status as well as their alcohol and drug use. Alcohol use was categorised using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Concise (AUDIT-C), while drug use was ascertained by use of cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, and/or ketamine in the previous 12 months. Respondents also completed questions on their experience (if any) of types of sexual violence.

Results

Alcohol and cannabis were the most commonly used substances among first-year students. Since starting higher-level education, unwanted sexual touching was the most common form of sexual violence reported by students. Incapacitation (i.e. taking advantage of the victim when they were too drunk or ‘out of it’ to stop what was happening) was the most frequently reported tactic used by the perpetrator.

Unwanted sexual touching

Female and non-binary students were more likely to report experiencing unwanted sexual touching. Controlling for the influence of hazardous alcohol use, the odds of experiencing unwanted sexual touching were:

• 1.3 times higher for female students and 1.8 times higher for male students who reported cannabis use.
• 1.6 times higher for female students and 2 times higher for male students who reported cocaine use.
• 1.5 times higher for female students who reported ecstasy use. However, ecstasy use did not increase the risk for males.
• Ketamine use did not significantly increase the odds of experiencing unwanted sexual touching for female or male students.

Female students who reported hazardous alcohol use were 2.3–2.4 times more likely to experience unwanted sexual touching, depending on the drug being controlled for, while males were 1.8–2 times more likely.

Non-consensual attempted penetration

There was no incremental increase in experiences of non-consensual attempted penetration for each drug type above hazardous alcohol use for female students. However, for male students, controlling for the influence of hazardous alcohol use, the odds of experiencing non-consensual attempted penetration were:

• 2.6 times higher for male students who reported cocaine use.
• 1.3 times higher for male students who reported ecstasy use.
• 2.7 times higher for male students who reported ketamine use.

Depending on the drug being controlled for, female students who reported hazardous alcohol use were 2.3–2.4 times more likely to experience non-consensual attempted penetration. However, for males, hazardous alcohol use did not increase the likelihood of experiencing non-consensual attempted penetration.

Non-consensual completed penetration

Controlling for the influence of hazardous alcohol use, the odds of experiencing non-consensual completed penetration were:

• 1.4 times higher for female students and 2.1 times higher for male students who reported cannabis use.
• 2 times higher for female students who reported cocaine use. However, cocaine use did not significantly increase the likelihood of experiencing non-consensual completed penetration for male students.
• 1.6 times higher for female students and 7
  times higher for male students who reported ecstasy use.
• 1.9 times higher for female students and 3.3 times higher for male students who reported ketamine use.

Female students who reported hazardous alcohol use were 2–2.1 times more likely to experience non-consensual completed penetration, depending on the drug being controlled for. However, hazardous alcohol use did not increase the likelihood of experiencing non-consensual completed penetration for male students.

Rape

Controlling for the influence of hazardous alcohol use, the likelihood of experiencing rape was:

• 1.4 times higher for female students who reported cannabis use. However, cannabis use did not increase the likelihood of experiencing rape among male students.
• 2.1 times higher for both female and male students who reported cocaine use.
• 1.9 times higher for female students and 2.9 times higher for male students who reported ecstasy use.
• 1.8 times higher for female students and 3.5 times higher for male students who reported ketamine use.

Female students who reported hazardous alcohol use were 2.2–2.3 times more likely to experience rape, depending on the drug being controlled for. However, hazardous alcohol use did not increase the likelihood of experiencing rape for male students.

Discussion

Reports of experiencing sexual violence were higher among female and non-binary first-year students, while the tactic most commonly used was incapacitation, where the student was unable to give consent. Substance use was commonly a factor in sexual violence. Hazardous alcohol use was a predictor for all forms of sexual violence among female students; for male students, it increased the likelihood of unwanted sexual touching. Other illegal drugs were also a factor in experiencing sexual violence in the first year of third-level education, emphasising the susceptibility of this group of young people. Sex differences were noted between drug types and sexual violence experienced. For example, for female students, the risk of experiencing rape was associated with all drug types, while for males it was cocaine, ecstasy, and ketamine.

This study provides evidence of the risks associated with each specific type of substance. It highlights the need for education among this population on the risks associated with illegal drug and alcohol use and the urgency of consent communication programmes to be delivered early in the third-level experience, but ideally before.

1    Koss MP, Abbey A, Campbell R, et al. (2007) Revising the SES: a collaborative process to improve assessment of sexual aggression and victimization. Psychol Women Q, 31(4): 357–370.

2    Abbey A (2002) Alcohol-related sexual assault: a common problem among college students. J Stud Alcohol Suppl, 14: 118–128.

3    Burke L, Dawson K, Flack WF, et al. (2023) Alcohol, drug use and experiences of sexual violence victimisation among first-year college students in Ireland. J Sex Aggress, Early online. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/38997/

4    Swartout KM, Flack WF, Cook SL, et al. (2019) Measuring campus sexual misconduct and its context: the Administrator-Researcher Campus Climate Consortium (ARC3) survey. Psychol Trauma, 11(5): 495–504.