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Sexual Violence Advocacy & Prevention

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On Sexual Harm

Anyone can be a victim or survivor of sexual harm. Sexual harm is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of behaviors that violate an individual's consent, boundaries, safety, or dignity. It includes rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, relationship violence, sexual exploitation, and other forms of unwanted sexual or gender-based conduct. The term recognizes that harm can occur in many forms and that all experiences deserve support, prevention efforts, and accountability. Please see the terms below with the definititions for each.

  • Rape is an act of non-consensual sexual intercourse (vaginal or anal) that may or may not involve coercion, the threat of force, violence, immediate and unlawful bodily injury or threats of future retaliation and duress.

  • Relationship violence (also known as dating violence or intimate partner violence) refers to a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one person to gain or maintain power and control over a current or former romantic, dating, or intimate partner. Relationship violence can include physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, digital, or financial abuse, as well as threats, intimidation, coercion, isolation, or stalking. It can occur regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or relationship status and may happen in person or through technology.

  • Sexual assault is broader in definition than rape. Any non-consensual sexual act may be sexual assault. This could include unwanted touching on an intimate area of a person’s body, unwanted oral intercourse, or penetration of the anus or vagina with a foreign object. Sexual assault can include unwanted kissing or bodily contact that is sexual in nature.

  • Sexual battery is a form of sexual harm involving intentional, non-consensual sexual touching of another person. It includes unwanted contact with intimate body parts, whether directly or through clothing, and occurs when a person does not freely and affirmatively consent to the contact. Sexual battery can have significant emotional, psychological, and physical impacts and is prohibited by law and institutional policy.

  • Sexual exploitation is the non-consensual abuse or misuse of another person for sexual purposes. It includes behaviors that take advantage of a person's vulnerability, privacy, or inability to provide consent, such as recording or distributing intimate images without permission, voyeurism, exposing someone to sexual activity without consent, or facilitating sexual activity while a person is incapacitated.

  • Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature in the workplace or learning environment. Sexual harassment does not always have to be specifically about sexual behavior or directed at a specific person.

  • Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person involving repeated unwanted attention, contact, surveillance, or other behaviors that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others, or to experience substantial emotional distress. Stalking may occur in person, online, through technology, or via third parties, and is recognized as a form of sexual and interpersonal harm.

On Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault

Alcohol is the number one date rape drug.

We understand that CSUSM students are in college and that drinking and drunk sex are common. While we may understand how our own bodies react to alcohol, we cannot always accurately gauge how drunk someone else is - especially when they are a stranger. Keep this in mind when interacting with acquaintances or strangers at parties, because consent is even more important when both parties are under the influence.

“Date rape” drugs such as GHB, Rohypnol, and Ketamine are incapacitating drugs and potent sedatives slipped into a drink that may render someone weak, helpless, or unconscious. Survivors are often unable to remember what happened.

Drug Description Common Effects Appearance

GHB

GHB takes effect in about 15 minutes and can last 3 or 4 hours. It is very potent: A very small amount can have a big effect.

Relaxation, drowsiness

Dizziness, nausea, problems seeing, loss of consciousness (black out), seizures, can't remember what happened while drugged, problems breathing, tremors, sweating, vomiting, slow heart rate, and dream-like feeling.

A liquid with no odor or color, white powder, and pill. It might give your drink a slightly salty taste. Mixing it with a sweet drink, such as fruit juice, can mask the salty taste.

Rohypnol

The effects of Rohypnol can be felt within 30 minutes of being drugged and can last for several hours. If you are drugged, you might look and act like someone who is drunk. You might have trouble standing. Your speech might be slurred. Or you might pass out.

Muscle relaxation or loss of muscle control, difficulty with motor movements, drunk feeling, problems talking, nausea, can't remember what happened while drugged, loss of consciousness (black out), confusion, problems seeing, dizziness, sleepiness, and lower blood pressure.

Comes as a pill that dissolves in liquids. Some are small, round, and white. Newer pills are oval and green-gray in color. When slipped into a drink, a dye in these new pills makes clear liquids turn bright blue and dark drinks turn cloudy.

Ketamine

Ketamine is very fast-acting. You might be aware of what is happening to you, but unable to move. It also causes memory problems. Later, you might not be able to remember what happened while you were drugged.

Distorted perceptions of sight and sound, lost sense of time and identity, out of body experiences, dream-like feeling, feeling out of control, impaired motor function, problems breathing, convulsions, vomiting, memory problems, numbness, loss of coordination, aggressive or violent behavior, depression, high blood pressure, and slurred speech.

Comes as a liquid and a white powder.

Quaaludes

Methaqualone is a sedative-hypnotic drug that is similar in effect to barbiturates, a general central nervous system depressant.

Euphoria, drowsiness, reduces heart rate, reduces respiration, increases sexual arousal, paresthesia (numbness of the fingers and toes), slurred speech, headache, photophobia (excessive sensitivity to light)

Comes as a tablet or capsule.

There are some things we can do to be proactive in our safety:

  • Be aware of where your drink is and never leave it unattended.
  • If someone is pressuring you to drink, don’t be afraid to say no.
  • Alcoholic punch drinks like jungle juice contain a lot of alcohol,
  • Have a friend and a plan to get home.
  • Let your friends know what you want to do that night - even so far as to let them know if you do or don’t want to hook up with someone.

How will I know if I’ve been drugged?

If you notice any of the following warning signs in yourself or someone you know, reach out to someone you trust immediately:

  • Nausea
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Feeling drunk when you haven’t consumed any alcohol or very limited amounts
  • Sudden increase in dizziness, disorientation, or blurred vision
  • Sudden body temperature change that could be signaled by sweating or chattering teeth
  • Waking up with no memory, or missing large portions of memories

More information about Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault.