With the summer and the sun, we take advantage of the 5 to 7 to relax on the terrace and that says 5 to 7 so alcoholic beverages. Sexual assaults often take place, particularly under the influence of what is known as the rape drug. But what do you really mean by rape drugs?Rape drugs, because there are many, are drugs that can be used recreationally, but which are often used without a person's knowledge to dominate them and take possession of their body without their consent. According to Radio-Canada, 15% of sexual assaults are related to rape drugs. These substances taken alone do not necessarily have more impact than any drug, but injecting into a glass of alcohol, their abilities are amplified. In addition, they are extremely difficult to spot because they are colourless and odourless and do not last very long in the blood, on average 12 hours, depending on the type of substance.Although when the drug of rape is called, we generally think of GHB, other drugs such as ketamine, rohypnol or benzodiazepines are part of substances used as rape drugs. But the main drug of rape, whether or not it is taken voluntarily, is alcohol. It is the substance most often used to sexually assault people.The CALACS of Charlevoix recalls the effects of these drugs. They can create a feeling of over-consumption, since the effects of the drug are combined with those of alcohol. There may be a loss of vision and balance, a loss of contact with reality, a lack of inhibition, confusion, loss of consciousness…Very often the victims experience a strange sensation as if what they had experienced was not quite real, a little blurry. The victim may have doubts about what happened. It can also lead to a sense of shame and guilt related to inhibitions and over-consumption. When victims talk about it, it is very often the case that relatives make her feel guilty by telling her that she could have consumed more responsibly. Due to the circumstances of an assault under a drug from rape, victims are very often reluctant to file a complaint for fear of being tried or not believed. In addition, it is often very difficult to identify whether the victim has been drugged, as she must go to the hospital for tests to identify rape drugs in her blood within a few hours of the assault.Whether you have used alcohol or drugs, agreed to follow someone to their home or invited them to your home, you are not responsible for your sexual assault. Remember that consent can be withdrawn at any time during sexual intercourse and that a person cannot consent to sexual intercourse if he or she is intoxicated or is sleeping. In addition, each person is responsible for verifying that his or her partner is consenting to have sex at several times during the sexual act. So you don't bear the burden of naming that you don't want sex anymore.Many victims feel guilty for not defending themselves or running away, but it is the brain that controls our reactions when under significant stress. When we feel unsafe, a signal is sent that is called "fight-and-run." This is when cortisol and adrenaline, two hormones secreted by our body, are released. At this point, the brain assesses whether it is possible to fight for survival or whether it is better to flee. Your body then prepares for one or the other of the answers. The signals can be the acceleration of your heart and respiratory rate, the slowing of digestion, the increase in sweating. In case your brain assesses that you don't have the ability to fight or run away, because the danger is too great, that's when you freeze, you can't do anything. Freezing is therefore a very common and uncontrollable phenomenon for victims of sexual assault. If you did not act in front of your attacker, if you did not say anything, you are not responsible for what happened. The only person responsible for a sexual assault is the person who assaults.If you have been sexually assaulted as a result of drug intoxication, you can contact the toll-free 7-day-a-week hotline for help at 1-888-933-9007.You can also make an appointment with a mental health professional to help you cope with the consequences of your sexual assaults. As a social worker, I work to restore the social functioning of victims by providing tools to manage the daily impacts on your life.Emma NysSee worker in practice autonomewww.emmanys.com