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One in five recreational drug users 'taken advantage of sexually' One in five recreational drug users 'taken advantage of sexually'
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One in five recreational drug users in the UK has been taken advantage of sexually while vulnerable after alcohol or drug use.One in five recreational drug users in the UK has been taken advantage of sexually while vulnerable after alcohol or drug use.
The finding is one of the starkest results from the 2013 Global Drug Survey, conducted in partnership with the Guardian, Mixmag and GT magazine, which polled more than 7,000 UK drug users about their habits and experiences with drugs.The finding is one of the starkest results from the 2013 Global Drug Survey, conducted in partnership with the Guardian, Mixmag and GT magazine, which polled more than 7,000 UK drug users about their habits and experiences with drugs.
Around one in seven – 14% - of respondents said they had, in the past, been given alcohol or drugs by someone they believed had the intention of taking advantage of them sexually, while 2.4% of respondents said they had had sex without giving their consent as a result of being drugged without their knowing. Around one in seven – 14% – of respondents said they had in the past been given alcohol or drugs by someone they believed had the intention of taking advantage of them sexually, while 2.4% of respondents said they had had sex without giving their consent as a result of being drugged without their knowing.
The results suggest that both voluntary and involuntary drug use can leave users at significant risk of exploitation, and should be a significant factor in public health messages about drugs, according to Dr Adam Winstock, director of the survey, and clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at Kings College, London. The results suggest that both voluntary and involuntary drug use can leave users at significant risk of exploitation, which should be a significant factor in public health messages about drugs, according to Dr Adam Winstock, director of the survey, and clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at King's College London.
"Being taken advantage of whilst under the influence of substances was surprisingly common in this sample," he said. "Our findings show that you don't need to have a drug or alcohol problem to experience drug related harms and use often increases the risk amongst those already most vulnerable. "Being taken advantage of whilst under the influence of substances was surprisingly common in this sample," he said. "Our findings show that you don't need to have a drug or alcohol problem to experience drug-related harms and use often increases the risk amongst those already most vulnerable.
"Intoxication can also impair a person's ability to give informed consent, remove themselves from a risky situation or to take safe sex precautions" "Intoxication can also impair a person's ability to give informed consent, remove themselves from a risky situation or to take safe sex precautions."
More than 22,000 people worldwide completed the Global Drugs Survey, which is conducted online. Participants are recruited via media outlets, including the Guardian, across different countries, and so the sample is self-selecting and self-identified, but nonetheless gives an insight into attitudes of recreational users which is otherwise unobtainable on a large scale. More than 22,000 people worldwide completed the Global Drug Survey, which is conducted online. Participants are recruited via media outlets, including the Guardian, across different countries, so the sample is self-selecting and self-identified, but nonetheless gives an insight into attitudes of recreational users which is otherwise unobtainable on a large scale.
According to the results, women were three times more likely to report sexual assault as a result of drug use than men, while younger respondents were at significantly more risk than their older counterparts: 16 to 20-year-olds were twice as likely to have been taken advantage of sexually in the last 12 month than those aged 21 to 30, and seven times more than those over 30. According to the results, women were three times more likely to report sexual assault as a result of drug use than men, while younger respondents were at significantly more risk than their older counterparts: 16 to 20-year-olds were twice as likely to have been taken advantage of sexually in the last 12 month as those aged 21 to 30, and seven times more likely than those over 30.
Winstock said the key message for those using recreational drugs was to be aware of the risk and look after others.Winstock said the key message for those using recreational drugs was to be aware of the risk and look after others.
"The results also highlight how drug use within intimate settings can increase your risk of both opportunistic and planned sexual assault," he concluded. "Friends really need to keep an eye on each other, they're in the best position to spot risk and steer mates way from situations where intoxication isolation can make sexual assault more likely." "The results also highlight how drug use within intimate settings can increase your risk of both opportunistic and planned sexual assault," he concluded. "Friends really need to keep an eye on each other, they're in the best position to spot risk and steer mates way from situations where intoxication and isolation can make sexual assault more likely."
The drugs GBL and GHB, which are relatively niche but popular particularly among gay clubbers, were highlighted as particularly risky due to the way in which they are taken. The drugs are taken as liquid, in very small doses. The drugs GBL and GHB, which are relatively niche but particularly popular among gay clubbers, were highlighted as particularly risky owing to the way in which they are taken. The drugs are taken as liquids, in very small doses.
Due to the ease of overdose, and the fact they affect memory, one in five users reported having passed out on GHB/GBL in the previous 12 months – a much higher complication rate than most recreational drugs. Because of the ease of overdose, and the fact that they affect memory, one in five users reported having passed out on GHB/GBL in the previous 12 months – a much higher complication rate than for most recreational drugs.
The researchers behind the study have launched drugsmeter.com and drinksmeter.com alongside the survey results to allow users to anonymously compare their drug use to 45,000 other people, and receive information on potential harms and risks of their use. The researchers behind the study have launched drugsmeter.com and drinksmeter.com alongside the survey results to allow users to anonymously compare their drug use with 45,000 other people, and receive information on the potential risks.
More broadly, the survey results showed purchasing drugs online becoming more mainstream among recreational users, with more than one in five having acquired drugs in this way. The acquisition of prescription drugs, particularly sleeping pills, through illicit channels has also increased, with more than half of respondents who had taken benzoates (prescription sleeping drugs) in the last year having acquired them from a friend, rather than a doctor. More broadly, the survey results showed buying drugs online becoming more mainstream among recreational users, with more than one in five having acquired drugs in this way. The acquisition of prescription drugs, particularly sleeping pills, through illicit channels has also increased, with more than half of respondents who had taken benzoates (prescription sleeping drugs) in the last year having acquired them from a friend, rather than a doctor.
The findings also highlighted the risks of alcohol and tobacco, the two most commonly used legal recreational drugs. Just under 2% of people who had drunk alcohol in the last 12 months reported having sought emergency medical treatment as a result of their consumption – versus 0.4% of cocaine users, 0.3% of MDMA users, and 0.2% of cannabis smokers. The findings also highlighted the risks of alcohol and tobacco, the two most commonly used legal recreational drugs. Just under 2% of people who had drunk alcohol in the last 12 months reported having sought emergency medical treatment as a result of their consumption, compared with 0.4% of cocaine users, 0.3% of MDMA users, and 0.2% of cannabis smokers.
Alcohol and tobacco also scored lowest on satisfaction levels among current users. Tobacco was the drug users were most likely to say they'd like to use less of, with 40% of users saying they wanted to cut back, followed by alcohol with 34%, with heroin taking third place (albeit with a small sample of just 65 current users) at 26%.Alcohol and tobacco also scored lowest on satisfaction levels among current users. Tobacco was the drug users were most likely to say they'd like to use less of, with 40% of users saying they wanted to cut back, followed by alcohol with 34%, with heroin taking third place (albeit with a small sample of just 65 current users) at 26%.
Inside the reportInside the report
• Perscription addiction: this year's Global Drug Survey contained yet more evidence of a prescription drug misuse problem in the UK. More than half of those taking benzoates (sleeping pills) said they'd obtained them from a friend, not a doctor, while 35% said they'd bought some from a dealer. Just under a third of benzoate users said they took the pills in order "to get high" – as did 20% of people taking codeine tablets, and 23% of people taking prescription opioids. 15% of people who'd been prescribed these drugs in the last year said they'd shared them, while 20% said they had taken at least one overdose. • Prescription addiction: this year's Global Drug Survey contained yet more evidence of a prescription drug misuse problem in the UK. More than half of those taking benzoates (sleeping pills) said they had obtained them from a friend, not a doctor, while 35% said they had bought some from a dealer. Just under a third of benzoate users said they took the pills "to get high" – as did 20% of people taking codeine tablets, and 23% of people taking prescription opioids. 15% of people who had been prescribed these drugs in the last year said they had shared them, while 20% said they had taken at least one overdose.
• Drug driving: the UK is set next year to introduce roadside tests for drug use, alongside definitions of drug levels which "impair" driving and can lead to criminal prosecutions – but lots of drug survey respondents think police would be unable to tell if they were driving on drugs. Only 17% of respondents said police would "definitely" or "probably" be able to tell they were intoxicated if they were pulled over within two hours of smoking a joint of cannabis. The figure was similar for cocaine users, at 15%, but MDMA users were much likelier to think police would be able to tell: 41% said police would notice, versus just 5% who thought they wouldn't. • Drug driving: the UK is set next year to introduce roadside tests for drug use, alongside definitions of drug levels which "impair" driving and can lead to criminal prosecutions – but many drug survey respondents think police would be unable to tell if they were driving on drugs. Only 17% of respondents said police would "definitely" or "probably" be able to tell they were intoxicated if they were pulled over within two hours of smoking a joint of cannabis. The figure was similar for cocaine users, at 15%, but MDMA users were much likelier to think police would be able to tell: 41% said police would notice, against just 5% who thought they would not.
• Synthetic risk: so-called synthetic cannabis – herbs sprayed with chemical compounds which supposedly cause similar effects to cannabis – hasn't achieved anything like the popularity of its natural counterpart, but does have a small but growing user-base, with just under 9% of respondents having tried it. However, those taking the drug may be running much higher risks than users of natural cannabis: while only 0.2% (1 in 500) of cannabis users reported seeking emergency medical treatment as a result of their drug use in the last 12 months, 2.2% (1 in 45) of synthetic cannabis users had done the same. • Synthetic risk: so-called synthetic cannabis – herbs sprayed with chemical compounds which supposedly cause similar effects to cannabis – has not achieved anything like the popularity of its natural counterpart, but does have a small but growing user base, with just under 9% of respondents having tried it. However, those taking the drug may be running much higher risks than users of natural cannabis: while only 0.2% (1 in 500) of cannabis users reported seeking emergency medical treatment as a result of their drug use in the last 12 months, 2.2% (1 in 45) of synthetic cannabis users had done so.
• Not talking to Frank: despite a huge advertising push over several years, drug users still don't seem all that inclined to turn to government websites (such as Talk to Frank) for advice on drug use. Asked where they'd send a friend for information on drug use, only 2% of respondents suggested such websites. Telephone advice lines did somewhat better, at 9%, while local drug services managed 20%. Perhaps surprisingly, a third of survey respondents said they'd recommend their GP for advice on drug use, but it was overwhelmingly friends and family, at just over 60%, that won out as the premier information source. • Not talking to Frank: despite a huge advertising push over several years, drug users still do not seem all that inclined to turn to government websites (such as Talk to Frank) for advice on drug use. Asked where they would send a friend for information on drug use, only 2% of respondents suggested such websites. Telephone advice lines did somewhat better, at 9%, while local drug services managed 20%. Perhaps surprisingly, a third of survey respondents said they would recommend their GP for advice on drug use, but it was overwhelmingly friends and family, at just over 60%, that won out as the premier information source.
• Mystery white powder: around one in seven (14%) of respondents said they had, in the last twelve months, taken a mystery white powder without knowing what it was – a similar level to last year, when the phenomenon was first examined. Among recent users of cocaine, speed or MDMA, this figure doubled to 28%. Alcohol was a huge factor contributing to people's willingness to try a mystery drug: 78% said they were intoxicated when accepting the powder. But perhaps most disturbingly for those worried of consequences, 39% accepted the powder from a stranger or someone they didn't know well. • Mystery white powder: around one in seven (14%) of respondents said they had, in the last twelve months, taken a mystery white powder without knowing what it was – a similar level to last year, when the phenomenon was first examined. Among recent users of cocaine, speed or MDMA, this figure doubled to 28%. Alcohol was a huge factor contributing to people's willingness to try a mystery drug: 78% said they were intoxicated when accepting the powder. But perhaps most disturbingly for those worried about the consequences, 39% accepted the powder from a stranger or someone they did not know well.
• Supermarket-style pricing: drug dealers seem to be adopting a tactic born in the supermarket ready-meals market – tiered pricing. More than half of people who'd bought MDMA pills said they'd been offered "better quality" pills for a higher price – up to £20 a pill – and 64% elected to pay for the premium-quality offering. Cocaine users reported similar results: the typical price paid for cocaine was £50 a gram, but 65% of those who purchased were offered an upgrade, with an average price of £80 a gram. In this case, 60% of users elected for the pricier option. • Supermarket-style pricing: drug dealers seem to be adopting a tactic born in the supermarket ready-meals market – tiered pricing. More than half of people who had bought MDMA pills said they had been offered "better quality" pills for a higher price – up to £20 a pill – and 64% elected to pay for the premium-quality offering. Cocaine users reported similar results: the typical price paid for cocaine was £50 a gram, but 65% of those who purchased were offered an upgrade, with an average price of £80 a gram. In this case, 60% of users elected for the pricier option.