• A significant portion of sexual assault victims report increased drug use following the assault
• Sexual Assault victims are 3.4 times more likely to use marijuana, 5.3 times more likely to use prescription drugs for non-medicinal purposes, 6.4 times more likely to use cocaine, 10 times more likely to use alcohol, and 26 times more likely to use hard drugs other than cocaine
• Many victims report using drugs as a way to cope with the trauma of sexual assault, attempting to numb emotional distress, or manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder 
• Around 42% of sexual assault victims use drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism 
• Between 40 and 85 percent of all sex workers use substances
• The reasons sexual assault victims use: 
• As a way to cope or escape from the trauma of sexual abuse
• As a form of self-medication
• To help deal with low self-esteem or feelings of loneliness
• As a manifestation of self-harm or self-destructive behavior

I am deeply sorry to anyone who has experienced sexual assault, and I am sorry for what you are going through and have gone through. I have never experienced any form of sexual assault myself, and I cannot even imagine what anyone who has is going through. I have used alcohol to cope with myself, and in no way am I trying to project myself into anyone’s situation. It’s just I know how a person can get there. And to anyone who is going through anything involving sexual assault, visit https://rainn.org/resources. And to anyone who is struggling with any form of substance abuse, visit https://drughelpline.org/  I do wish you all the best and healing over your lives and situations.