Date Rape Drugs: Understanding the Risks and Seeking Help

Each month, more than ten women of all ages and backgrounds
contact our Adoption Center with the same experience — they
have been victims of a date rape drug and are now pregnant. Most
of the time, these women do not know who the biological father
is. Rohypnol is becoming the drug of choice for would-be
rapists. Most predators target unsuspecting victims by slipping
these illicit drugs into beverages at parties, bars, nightclubs,
and dances. Rape drugs have the power to make one drink feel
like six or more.

Laura, a sophomore from Florida, was one such woman who called
our center. Laura attended a private party off campus. She
thinks that she was probably dancing when the perpetrator laced
her beer. She only had one drink and started feeling sick; then
her memory became foggy.

“I started feeling drowsy, really dizzy and confused about where
I was. I went to the party alone, which was my first mistake.”

Laura has no memory of what happened for the next eight hours.
She woke up half-naked in a back room of the club with bruises
on her thighs. She suspected that someone may have had sex with
her, but couldn’t remember any details. She was hung over for
days afterward.

Laura blocked the whole incident from her mind and allowed a
numbness to take over. Her grades fell, and she found her mind
wandering in class. Six weeks later, she discovered that she was
pregnant. Laura dropped out of college to have the baby and
chose to have him adopted by a childless couple through our
adoption center. “I needed to do something positive, and it
wasn’t the child’s fault,” Laura said.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “Date Rape” is one
of the fastest-growing drug-facilitated sexual assault crimes in
America today. A recent large study found that one in four
college women reported being the victim of rape or attempted
rape, and 84% of their assailants were boyfriends or
acquaintances. Most victims remember nothing of the incident
except the feeling of being violated. The same study found that
one in four college men admitted to having used sexual
aggression with women, and one in twelve admitted committing a
sexual assault of some kind.

GHB, one of the most popular date-rape drugs, is sometimes added
to punch or other open container drinks at fraternity parties,
college functions and social gatherings. It is often given to
female party goers in hopes of lowering their inhibitions and
facilitating a potential sexual conquest for the assailant.

The victims of this crime who contact our center are of all
backgrounds and ages. Many are still in some shock over being
pregnant and have little to share about the “father” of their
child.

Rohypnol, another common date-rape drug, is not legal in the US.
It is produced and sold by prescription in Europe and Latin
America, then smuggled into the United States. Rohypnol can
often be dissolved in a beverage and is undetectable. In
combination with alcohol, it can induce a blackout with memory
loss lasting 8-24 hours. The drug takes effect after roughly ten
minutes. Victims of the drug report feeling dizzy and
disoriented, and some become nauseated.

By taking preventive measures to protect yourself and your
friends, you can avoid becoming a potential victim.

Here are a few helpful tips for staying aware, alert and safe:

•Do not accept drinks from anyone you don’t know well. •If you
are accepting a drink, make sure it’s from an unopened
container, and that you open it yourself. •If dancing, don’t
leave your drink unattended. If your drink has been left
unattended, toss it out. •Consider buying a specially designed
drug testing coaster (see below) to test your drink for the
drug. They are low-cost and a smart choice. •If your drink
tastes or looks different than it should, if it tastes “funny”
or has residue in it, throw it away. •Don’t go to parties alone.
•Assign a designated sober person when going out. •Be observant
to the behaviors and actions of your friends. Trust your
instincts. •Keep a charged cell phone with you in the event you
have a problem and need help.

Please, share this information with your friends. Stay safe and
vigilant, and remember that you are your own best protector.

Women’s Resources: If you have been the victim of rape and think
that you may be pregnant, Lifetime can help. Call
1-800-923-6784. Drug testing coaster: a drop of liquid on a
cardboard drink coaster can identify two of the most popular
date-rape drugs. If the spot turns blue, toss that cocktail.
Fifteen million of these coasters have already been distributed;
look for them at 7-Elevens. See http://www.drinksafetech.com/.
It runs about 50¢ a coaster. National Institute on Drug Abuse
(Rohypnol and GHB)

http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofax/RohypnolGHB.html

Womens Issues