The Date Rape Drug

The other day in my women's group, a couple of the younger ladies spoke of experiences they had while they were involved with the club scene. Both had been raped, and neither had any memory of it.  They remembered the night up to a certain point, and then it all went blank. Both do admit, though, that they left their drinks sitting on the counter while they went outdoors to smoke.

In my early days here in New York City, disco was all the rage.  Although I did hit the disco on occasion, my personal choice would be to spend and evening at a  'coffee house' such as the Cafe Wah or an 'underground cafe', those places where stars such as Bob Dylan and the Mama's and the Papa's were  found before their names were household words. It was so much different being a young woman hitting the scene back in those days, and we thought nothing of leaving our drinks on the counter while we danced or headed to the powder room. We knew they would be just as we left them when we returned. Back then there was no such thing as 'date rape drugs', and if one did lose control, it was because they had too much to drink.

According to the law, if a victim has passed out, or isn't in control of herself/himself, having sex with that person is rape.  It was  In the early 1990s the topic of date rape became even more complicated because of date rape drugs. They call them 'date rape drugs' because that is the primary motivation for their use--to facilitate sexual assault against an unwitting victim, and while it is true that victims may be sexually assaulted after knowingly ingesting illegal drugs such as  heroin, and cocaine, they may also be unknowingly drugged by so called 'date rape drugs'. Date rape drugs are drugs used specifically to  incapacitate  a victim, allowing the perpetrator to commit acts of sexual assault or rape.   
The three most common 'date rape drugs'  are....

A well-known sedative, Rohypnol, is considered a 'date rape' drug because of its sedative and amnesiac qualities. Also known as 'roofies', it is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is a prescription drug marketed legally in many countries around the world. It comes in tablet form and can be dropped into the drink of unsuspecting individuals where it quickly dissolves, it significantly interferes with cognitive functioning, balance, and blocks the short-term memory. Although a victim may realize that they been raped, the drug, denies them the ability to identify the attackers.

Ketamine, street name 'Special K',  available as a liquid,  white powder, or tablet  that easily dissolves in a drink. Ketamine does have the potential for incapacitating unknowing and even voluntary users. It has become common at dance parties or at all-night 'raves'. Ketamine was developed in the 1960s as an animal anesthetic and has been widely used by veterinarians for animal surgery. Depending on the dose, ketamine can have many effects, including  feelings of numbness, hallucinations, slurred speech,  memory loss,  or near-death experiences. Large doses can lead to unconsciousness or even death.

Gamma Hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, is a 'date rape drug' that, like Rohypnol, is a clear, odorless and slightly salty tasting liquid that acts as a central nervous system depressent. It is used especially in bars, clubs, and on college campuses. It has a sedative effect, making the user feel sleepy and, depending on the dosage,  causes unconsciousness and convulsions, numbness, suppressed breathing, slurred speech, blurred vision and coma. GHB is  an effective date rape drug because all traces of it leave the body in just a few hours, so, byy the time a victim realizes what has happened, there is no evidence that he/she has been given the drug. GHB mixed with alcohol 'can be fatal'.

Protect yourself from date rape drugs by never taking a beverage that you have not seen prepared. This means that you must never accept open beverages from others who you do not know or do not trust, and whenever in bars or clubs, always get your drink directly from the bartender...and be sure not to not take your eyes off the bartender or your drink while it is being made. Never leave your drink unattended and then come back to it. If you need to leave your drink for any reason, finish it before you leave and when you return, order a new one. 

Please, please be careful. I cannot say this enough. Remember, if a 'date rape' drug is slipped into your drink, you won 't know what is happening, and you won 't be able to protect yourself or say 'no' to unwanted sexual advances.  The people who use these drugs to control you are criminals.