Press Release from Our VOICE:
Our VOICE, Buncombe County’s incorporated rape crisis and prevention center, proudly announces a collaboration with the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) to provide training to its member agencies on the dangers of drug facilitated sexual assault in drinking establishments and the importance of bystander intervention in preventing rape.
In 2008, Our VOICE launched The Bar Outreach Project after noticing an increase in the reports of drug facilitated sexual assaults from local bars and other businesses where alcoholic beverages are served. Though the popular belief is that drugs such as rophypnol, ketamine, and GHB are the most commonly used drugs to facilitate sexual assault, alcohol is the most frequently used drug. An offender may assault an intoxicated person who does not consent, or take advantage of someone after they black out from overuse. An offender may also pressure someone to drink heavily or mix extra-strong drinks as a way of compromising their ability to consent to sexual activity.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1 in 4 women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime, and one-half of those assaults will involve alcohol consumption by the victim and/ or the perpetrator of the assault. Our VOICE’s response to the epidemic on a local level was to empower bar owners and workers to foster environments that are safe for the public from all forms of drug facilitated sexual assault.
The bar initiative resulted in the development of a curriculum that has been marketed to other communities in Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, and Vermont. The SCCADVASA is the first coalition to pick up the curriculum for its members. Project managers Daniel Lee and Matt Lynn are excited to bring their message to South Carolina’s domestic violence and sexual assault agencies. “Preventing drug facilitated sexual assault is possible,” says Lynn, “but it takes the whole community working together, being watchful of each other’s safety and being vigilant against any aspect of our culture that promotes rape.”
Sara Barber, Executive Director of SCCADVSA, is excited about the challenge of partnering with local establishments to end rape: “By bringing sexual assault awareness to bars and restaurants, we increase visibility for these issues and normalize anti-violence attitudes and behaviors. Besides teaching bystander intervention techniques, we hope this training will encourage bars to consider how they can be a safe space and contribute to a culture where sexual violence will not be tolerated.”
Our VOICE’s 24-hour crisis hotline can be reached at (828) 255-8601
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