Work

Breaking the silence on drug-facilitated sexual assault: disclosure patterns and barriers to reporting among young people in Spain

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) is a common form of sexual violence among young people in party settings, predominantly involving opportunistic assaults facilitated by alcohol. Although highly prevalent, little is known about disclosure patterns following DFSA, despite their implications for prevention and survivors' recovery. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of disclosure of DFSA experiences in Spain, with a particular focus on opportunistic assaults, and to identify victim and assault characteristics associated with disclosure. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous online survey administered to a national sample of young adults aged 18-35 years residing in Spain. Analyses were restricted to participants reporting lifetime DFSA victimization in party settings. Disclosure was classified as no disclosure, disclosure to the close social environment only, or disclosure to authorities. The prevalence of disclosure and its associations with sociodemographic and assault characteristics were examined using generalized ordinal logistic regression and partial proportional odds models. Results: Among victims of DFSA in party settings, 17.5% had never disclosed the assault, 78.2% disclosed it only to their close social environment, and only 4.3% disclosed it to authorities. Women showed higher odds of disclosure than men. Perpetrator strategy showed the strongest association with disclosure to authorities, although estimates were imprecise because formal disclosure was uncommon. Opportunistic DFSA involving voluntary substance consumption showed particularly low levels of formal disclosure. Discussion: Most victims of DFSA disclose the assault to someone but do not reach formal support systems. This gap may compromise secondary prevention by limiting timely access to healthcare, while also hindering primary prevention by perpetuating the invisibility of DFSA and restricting surveillance and public awareness. Perpetrator strategy emerged as the factor most strongly associated with disclosure, suggesting that opportunistic DFSA remains particularly hidden. To inform prevention efforts, we propose a conceptual model in which an interconnected set of barriers may hinder victims' disclosure and access to support. These findings highlight the need for prevention policies and awareness campaigns that explicitly address opportunistic DFSA rather than portraying DFSA primarily as covert drink spiking, while also strengthening victim-support interventions aimed at improving recognition of opportunistic DFSA and reducing barriers to formal help-seeking.

Source: Frontiers in Public Health

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1924643

Authors: Pablo Prego-Meleiro, Luis Sordo, Paula Meira-Pliego, José Pulido, Gemma Montalvo

Institutions: Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad de Alcalá, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos

Language: English

Topic: Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Gender equality, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801