II. Prevention

It can be difficult to discuss sexual expectations with someone—especially when it is early on in a relationship. However, both men and women must take responsibility to prevent rape.

Listed below are prevention tips for men and women. Although no single method will make you immune from rape or assault, there are steps you can take to avoid potentially damaging situations.

Responsibilities for Both Men and Women

1. Get to know your partner and discussing sexual expectations before you find yourself in an intimate situation—don’t let sex "just happen."
2. Clearly communicate your desires and limits. Don’t make assumptions.
3. Avoid excessive use of alcohol.
4. Be assertive. If you say "no," say it clearly.
5. Listen—and hearing. Being told "no" is not a rejection of you as a person. You can also say "no."
6. Pay attention to your non-verbal actions.
7. Accept your partner’s decision. Don’t try to coerce or manipulate.
8. Understand and accept that you are responsible for your behavior and choices.
9. Trust your instincts. If you think something is wrong, you are probably right. Get out of the situation immediately.

Incapacitated Sex

If you choose to drink, the likelihood you will remember to consider the above responsibilities is greatly reduced. Thus, you run the risk of impaired thinking and communication. Some individuals get themselves and their partners drunk enough to let sex "just happen."

Being drunk is never an excuse for raping or assaulting someone.

Alcohol is not the only drug that can facilitate unwanted sex. There are drugs, increasingly found at parties and raves, that have come to be known as "date rape drugs" because of their ability to incapacitate. These drugs are often added to drinks without the victim’s knowledge. These drugs include:

GHB (also known as "G," Liquid Ecstasy, Blue Nitro, Reviverant, Grievous Bodily Harm, or Georgia Home Boy). It can cause nausea, vomiting, delusions, amnesia, seizures, and loss of muscle control. It can leave you conscious but unable to move, unconscious, in a coma, or it can kill you. It usually has a bluish color, is odorless, and tasteless.

Rohypnol (also known as Roofies, Roche, or Forget-me Pill). It can cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and amnesia. It can contain dangerous impurities.

Be careful. Do not accept drinks that you are not completely sure of the contents. Do not leave drinks unattended. Keep an eye on yourself and your friends, for any suspicious activity, and for signs of the symptoms listed above

Risks of Alcohol

• At least 70% of all sexual assaults involve alcohol.
• The use of alcohol can be a factor for the survivor, the aggressor, or both.
• Alcohol lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can lead to a dangerous situation.
• Alcohol and sex can be as dangerous as drinking and driving.