The girl was known to the rapists, was in social website
relationship, given some soft drink and then raped. It can be a sedative or a
date rape drug.
Once caught, often the defence of the accused is that the
girl was a party to the sexual act. The use of such “predator” or “date rape
drugs” is common in India .
These drugs are commonly used in trains and buses to rob passengers, and in
youth parties to exploit young females for drug-facilitated sexual assault.
1. Because of the effects of these drugs, victims may be
physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and can't remember what
happened.
2. The drugs often have no colour, smell or taste and are
easily added to flavoured drinks without the victim's knowledge.
3. These drugs can include things like alcohol, marijuana or
other street drugs, designer or club drugs like ecstasy, over-the-counter
sleeping pills and anti-histamines, even cold medications.
4. However, the term "date rape drug” applies to any of
the three drugs: GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) can be made at home, used for
narcolepsy in the US ;
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) is legal in Europe & Mexico. Used for sleep
problems and during anaesthesia and Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride) used in
the Veterinary practice.
5. Many factors make these drugs desirable to sexual
predators. All traces of the drugs leave the body within 72 hours of ingestion
and are not found in any routine toxicology screen or blood test.
6. Date rape drugs are easily slipped into drinks and food
and are very fast acting. They render the victim unconscious but
responsive with little or no memory of what happens while the drug is active in
their system. The drugs also make the victim act without inhibition, often in a
sexual or physically affectionate way.
7. Date rape drugs render a person incapable of thinking
clearly or of making appropriate decision. This makes for a very passive
victim; one who is still able to play a role in what is happening but who will
have no clear memory of what happened after-the-fact.
8. Without any memory of events the victim is often unaware
that they have even been raped, and if they are aware or have suspicions they
make very poor witnesses.
As the drugs are easily available, the onus lies on us to
protect ourselves. Here are a few tips:
1. Don't accept any drinks from other people, except trusted
friends
2. Open containers yourself
3. Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go
to the bathroom
4. Don't share drinks
5. Don't drink from punch bowls or other large, common, open
containers. They may already have drugs in them
6. Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange.
Sometimes, GHB tastes salty.
7. Have a non-drinking friend with you to make sure nothing
happens (if you are consuming alcohol).
8. 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.
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