Sexual assault
       Without question, alcohol plays a significant role in sexual assaults on college campuses, which happen far more often than many realize. Indeed, from my perspective, this is one of the real tragedies of alcohol misuse on America 's college campuses. Below is a summary statement from a recent manuscript from Mohler-Kuo et al. (2004):

"Roughly one in 20 (4.7%) [college] women reported being raped. Nearly three quarters (72%) of the victims experienced rape while intoxicated. Women who were under 21, were white, resided in sorority houses, used illicit drugs, drank heavily in high school and attended colleges with high rates of heavy episodic drinking were at higher risk of rape while intoxicated."

       It is important to recognize and contemplate the link between alcohol use on the part of the female and rape. This link does not, under any circumstances, suggest that female students are responsible in any way for their victimization. However, alcohol use on their part clearly increases the risk that they might become a victim. Why? That is not exactly clear. However, it is quite possible that alcohol interferes with one's ability to recognize that a situation is potentially dangerous. Reduced anxiety, impulse control and decision-making skills might decrease the odds that a female would recognize, or be concerned, that she was in a risky situation. Regardless, alcohol use in general, even on the part of the female victim, significantly increases the likelihood that sexual assault, including rape, will occur.
       In the section on prevention efforts, I will make the case that 1) alcohol is the date rape drug and 2) we have simply failed to convey to students that taking advantage of another student's level of intoxication to facilitate a sexual encounter is a crime punishable by law.