Date Rape Drugs

One of my authors asked for some information and I thought it would be a good thing to post that information here, too.

Sadly, rape is an all too often used weapon against women and children of both sexes. Men do get raped, of course, but the predominant victims are females and children.

Here are 3 of the more common date rape drugs. They come in different forms and alcohol can worsen the effects of each. Depending on how much is used, the length of time of the effects can also vary; however, be aware that these drugs work very quickly (usually within 15-20 minutes), last anywhere from 3 to 24 hours, and also leave the body between 24 to 72 hours.

The most important things you can do to protect yourself are to never let your drink leave your hand and your eyesight, and to keep aware of what's going on around you. To do these, you need to keep track of how much you're drinking and who's around you. Also, if you hear date rape drugs being discussed, leave the party, bar, whatever, immediately.

GHB (aka, gamma hydroxy butyrate; different forms): a liquid with no color or odor, white powder, and pill.
· relaxation
· drowsiness
· dizziness
· nausea
· problems seeing
· unconsciousness (black out)
· seizures
· can't remember what happened while drugged
· problems breathing
· tremors
· sweating
· vomiting
· slow heart rate
· dream-like feeling
· coma
· death

Rohypnol: a pill that dissolves in liquids. The old (original) pills are colorless. New pills turn a blue color when added to liquids.
· can't remember what happened while drugged
· lower blood pressure
· sleepiness
· muscle relaxation or loss of muscle control
· drunk feeling
· nausea
· problems talking
· difficulty with motor movements
· loss of consciousness
· confusion
· problems seeing
· dizziness
· confusion
· stomach problems

Ketamine: a white powder.
· hallucinations
· lost sense of time and identity
· distorted perceptions of sight and sound
· feeling out of control
· impaired motor function
· problems breathing
· convulsions
· vomiting
· out of body experiences
· memory problems
· dream-like feeling
· numbness
· loss of coordination
· aggressive or violent behavior
· slurred speech

If you think that you have been drugged and raped:

- Go to the police station or hospital right away.

- Get a urine (pee) test as soon as possible. The drugs leave your system quickly. Rohypnol leaves your body 72 hours after you take it. GHB leaves the body in 12 hours.

- Don't urinate before getting help.

- Don't douche, bathe, or change clothes before getting help. These things may give evidence of the rape.

- You also can call a crisis center or a hotline to talk with a counselor. One national hotline is the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or 800-787-3224 (TDD). Feelings of shame, guilt, fear and shock are normal. It is important to get counseling from a trusted professional.

For more information on date rape drugs, contact the National Women's Health Information Center at 800-994-9662 or the following organizations (click on the names or the URLs):

Drug Enforcement Administration, DOJ
Phone: (202) 307-1000
Internet Address: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea

Food and Drug Administration, OPHS, HHS
Phone: (800) 332-4010 Hotline or (888) 463-6332 (Consumer Information)
Internet Address: http://www.fda.gov

National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, HHS
Phone: (800) 662-4357 Hotline or (800) 662-9832 Spanish Language Hotline
Internet Address: http://www.drugabuse.gov

Office of National Drug Control Policy
Phone: (800) 666-3332 (Information Clearinghouse)
Internet Address: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/index.html

Men Can Stop Rape
Phone: (202) 265-6530
Internet Address: http://www.mencanstoprape.org

National Center for Victims of Crime
Phone: (800) 394-2255
Internet Address: http://www.ncvc.org

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
Phone: (800) 656-4673 (656-HOPE)
Internet Address: http://www.rainn.org/

Keep safe.