Post-Rape Intervention Prevents Drug Abuse.

Posted by Sparrow
April 22, 2008

In a first therapists in Carolina have taken a proactive role in preventing substance abuse in sexual assault and rape victims.

Firstly they recognised that sexual assault and rape routinely produce extreme distress and negative psychological reactions in victims. Further, past research suggests that victims are at increased risk of developing substance use or abuse post-rape. The post-rape forensic medical exam may itself worsen traumatic distress because it includes cues that may serve as reminders of the assault, thereby heightening post-assault negative conditions.

To address these problems, a two-part video intervention was developed to take advantage of the existing sexual assault forensic exam infrastructure, and to specifically;

(a) minimize anxiety/discomfort during forensic examinations, thereby reducing risk of future emotional problems, and

(b) prevent increased substance use and abuse following sexual assault.

They found that of the 268 sexual assault victims participating in the forensic medical exam and completing one or more follow-up assessments at 3 months, 3-6 months and longer than six months post-assault indicated that the video was associated with significantly lower frequency of marijuana use at each time point, among women who reported use prior to the assault.

Heidi S. Resnick, Ron Acierno, Ananda B. Amstadter, Shannon Self-Brown and Dean G. Kilpatrick. An acute post sexual assault intervention to prevent drug abuse. Addictive Behaviors, Volume 32, Issue 10, October 2007, Pages 2032-2045


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