Prevalence and Risk of Drugging Victimization Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual College Students

Abstract

Drugging (i.e., administering someone a drug or alcohol without their knowledge or consent) is a problem with substantial consequences for college students. Although sexual minorities face greater rates of drugging risk factors (e.g., greater rates of binge drinking have been identified among sexual minorities), no prior study has examined the prevalence or risk of drugging in this population. We sought to (1) describe rates at which heterosexual and sexual minority college students (separated by gender) have been drugged and to assess (2) sexual minority status and (3) illicit drug use as risk factors for drugging victimization for male and female college students. Results revealed that, controlling for established drugging victimization risk factors, male sexual minority college students were 72.9% more likely to report drugging victimization than heterosexual males. No significant differences in rates of drugging victimization were found between sexual minority and heterosexual women. However, both genders had greater drugging victimization among students who engaged in illicit drug use, binge drinking, and Greek life membership. These findings suggest that initiatives to promote the well-being of college students (e.g., sexual assault prevention) should include drugging as a focus, with outreach particularly to women and sexual minority men.