What are date-rape drugs?
Date-rape drugs — chemicals that can be slipped
into a drink to cause the victim to lose control and consciousness — have been seized near college campuses throughout
Illinois. Because these drugs have no detectable color, odor or taste when mixed with a drink, rapists are able to drug their
victims with little difficulty. Once drugged, the victims are often unable to move or even speak. They awake hours later,
with little or no memory of what has happened, including sexual assault. Combined with alcohol, these drugs can be deadly.
College women are the most frequent targets of these criminals.
What are the most common date-rape
drugs?
While many sedatives have been used as date-rape
drugs, RohypnolTM, GHB and ketamine are the ones most frequently encountered.
GHB
Short for gamma-hydroxybutyrate, GHB is most often administered to victims as a clear liquid with a salty taste,
but can also be found in capsule and powder forms. GHB can cause intoxication followed by deep sedation, lasting up to to
eight hours. Victims may experience reduced inhibitions, nausea, convulsions, amnesia and loss of consciousness. Mixed with
alcohol, GHB can cause the central nervous system to shut down, resulting in respiratory distress, coma or even death. The
effects can take place within 15 minutes. Other chemical names for GHB are gamma-hydroxy-butyramine and gamma hydroxybutyric
acid. Street names for GHB include Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid G, Liquid Ecstasy, Somatomax, Cherry Meth, Easy Lay and Gamma
10.
Ketamine
Administered in liquid, tablet or powder form, ketamine
is a fast-acting general anesthetic often used by veterinarians. Like GHB, it is found frequently at clubs and raves, where
users take it for its purported euphoric effects. Ketamine can cause impaired judgment, paranoia, numbness, amnesia, convulsions
and respiratory depression. Large doses can lead to oxygen starvation of the brain and muscles. Its effects typically last
for an hour, but it is not uncommon for the effects of ketamine to last for four to six hours. Generally, users do not recover
completely from the drug for up to 48 hours. Brand names for ketamine are KetasetTM and VetalarTM. Street names for ketamine
include Special K, Ket and K, Vitamin K, Kit Kat, Keller, Cat Valium, Purple and Super C.
Rohypnol
Often dropped into beverages in tablet form, RohypnolTM is a potent and fast-acting
sedative that dissolves rapidly, leaving no detectable taste, color or odor. In combination with alcohol, it can induce a
blackout with memory loss and depressed reaction. Girls and women around the country have reported being raped after being
involuntarily sedated with RohypnolTM, which was often slipped into a drink by an attacker. About 10 minutes after ingesting
the drug, a person may feel dizzy and disoriented, simultaneously too hot and too cold, or nauseated. She may experience difficulty
speaking and moving, and then pass out. Victims have no memories of what happened while under the drug’s influence.
The chemical name for RohypnolTM is flunitrazepam. Street names include Roofies, R2, Roofenol, Roche, Roachies, La Rocha,
Rope, Rib, Circles, Mexican Valium, Roach-2, Roopies, and Ropies, Forget Pill, Trip-and-Fall and Mind-Erasers.
What are some signs that a woman may have taken a date- rape drug?
Signs to look for include dizziness and/or nausea,
memory loss, breathing or motion difficulties and acting disproportionately intoxicated relative to the amount of alcohol
consumed.
How can a woman protect herself
from date-rape drugs?
Whether you are at a bar, the student union or in
any public situation, keep yourself and your friends safe by doing these simple things:
- Never leave your drink unattended.
- Do not accept open-container
drinks from anyone but a bartender or server. If you are accepting a drink, make sure it is from an unopened container and
that you open the container yourself.
- Be wary about accepting
drinks from anyone you do not know well or long enough to trust.
- Attend parties or bars with
a group of friends, arranging beforehand to watch each other’s drinks.
- If you arrive as a group,
leave as a group.
- Watch out for your friends.
If a friend shows symptoms of date-rape drug ingestion, seek medical attention immediately.
- Notify other females you
know about the effects of these dangerous drugs.
- If you think that you have
been a victim, notify the authorities immediately.
You can find out more about date- rape drugs by contacting
the following organizations:
National Institute on Drug Abuse
1-888-NIH-NIDA
www.nida.nih.gov
