The Reality of the Date Rape Drug
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from page 1
According to the U.S. Department of
Justice, “Date Rape” is one of the fastest
growing drug-facilitated, sexual assault crimes in America
today. Two thirds of GHB is ingested by people aged 18-25
years old and Ecstasy abuse has increased 500 percent over
a five-year period.
Studies confirm that acquaintance rape occurs more commonly among college
students -- predominantly first year students -- than among any other age
group. A recent large study found 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 to committing a sexual assault
of some kind. These men will slip the drug into a woman’s drink without
their knowledge, most often in combination with beer, and wait for the drug
to incapacitate the woman before sexually assaulting her. The assailants
go to parties to look for easy targets and opportunities. They wait until
the victim is too out of it to say "no" and then have sex with
her. Many men do it just to take advantage of women sexually.
The drug is often added to punch or other open container drinks at fraternity
parties, college functions and social gatherings, where it is reportedly
given to female party goers in hopes of lowering their inhibitions and facilitating
a potential sexual conquest for the assailant. High risk situations are clubs,
parties, bars, and raves. Women contacting us are of all backgrounds and
ages. Many are still in some shock over being pregnant and are not sure of
the race of the man that raped them and have little to share about the “father” of
their child.
The date rape drugs are often referred to as the “alphabet drugs" called "E" or
Ecstasy, "G" which can be either GHB or GBL and "K" or "Special
K" which is Ketamine. For a while Rohypnol or "Roofies" was
one of the most popular date rape drugs, but it has been replaced by GHB
as the date rape drug of choice. The most popular date-rape drugs are (GHB)
gamma hydroxybutyrate and ketamine. The "date rape" drug or "sexual
assault" drug is the street name for Rohypnol because it has been associated
with date rape. GHB is produced in clear liquid, white powder, tablet, and
capsule forms. It has also been commonly kn own
as: Rophies, Roofies, Roachies, Forget Pill, R2, roofenol, Roche, circles,
La rocha, Rope, Trip-and-Fall, Liquid X, Liquid E, G-Juice, Rib, Mexican
Valium, Roach-2, Roopies, Ropies, Mind-Erasers, Liquid Ecstasy, Somatomax,
Scoop, or Grievous Bodily Harm. Ketamine is also known as “K”, “Special
K” or “Vitamin K”. It commonly comes in a liquid form,
but is also found in powder or pill forms.
Rohypnol is not legal in the US, nor is it manufactured or sold legally in
the United States. It is used as a short-term treatment for insomnia in other
countries. It is produced  and
sold legally by prescription in Europe and Latin America, then smuggled into
the United States by mail or travelers. The drug is often distributed on
the street in its original "bubble packaging" which creates a false
appearance of legitimacy and makes it appear to be harmless and legal. Rohypnol
tablets are white, scored on one side, with the word "ROCHE" and
an encircled one or two indicating the dosage on the other. Rohypnol is a
low-cost drug, often less than $5.00 per tablet. The tablets are sold in
a sealed bubble pack of one or two mg doses.
Rohypnol can be addictive
and cause physical dependence. It has physiological effects
similar to Valium but is nearly ten times more potent.
Withdrawal symptoms include headache, muscle pain, confusion,
hallucinations and convulsions. Some women have had seizures
occur up to a week after cessation of use.
Rohypnol can be dissolved in a beverage, and is often undetectable.
Ecstasy is also known as MDMA and is known on the street as Adam, XTC, E, M,
Bean, and Roll. Ecstasy comes in a tablet that is often branded; a few samples
are shown below:
    
In combination with alcohol,
it can induce a blackout with memory loss and a decrease
in resistance. Women as young as 13 throughout the country
have reported being raped after being involuntarily sedated
with Rohypnol. Roughly ten minutes after having the drug
in her system, the victim may feel dizzy and disoriented,
too hot or too cold or both; some become nauseated. Sedation
starts approximately 25-30 minutes after the drug is ingested
and crests within two hours, with effects continuing for
up to eight hours.
The drug has no taste or odor. Victims
don’t have any memories of what happened while under
the drug's influence. The woman can appear extremely intoxicated,
with slurred speech or experience difficulty speaking,
gastrointestinal disturbances, poor urinary retention,
poor coordination, swaying, blood-shot eyes, decreased
blood pressure, and then she passes out . . . but without
the odor of alcohol.
Vicky was 19 when she discovered she
was pregnant –- she had no physical signals of rape.
She woke up in her own bed and therefore had no reason
to be concerned. She assumes that she had too much to drink,
although she doesn’t remember the previous night’s
events; she thought a friend must have helped get her safely
home. She was shocked to discover 2 months later that she
was pregnant. “I hadn’t had sex for over a
year and bought three pregnancy tests before going to a
clinic for a blood test.” Vicky chose to keep and
raise her child with the help of her family. In her words, “Having
the baby brought peace and healing to my life.”
Alcohol and Rohypnol are very hazardous in combination. If a woman is drinking
alcohol when the drug is slipped in her drink, the drug may greatly impair
her memory and judgment. A woman who becomes intoxicated on a combination of
alcohol and Rohypnol may experience "blackouts" lasting 8-24 hours
following ingestion, making her unable to resist a sexual attack. If combined
with other drugs, the results may lead to respiratory depression, aspiration,
coma and even death. Possession of Rohypnol is punishable for up to three years
in prison and a fine. Distribution and administration of this rape drug without
the person's knowledge is punishable by twenty years in prison and a fine.
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