Beware of date rape drugs

Beware of date rape drugs

We often hear cases where a lawyer allegedly raped a client or a medical intern allegedly raped a patient or a person being robbed in a train. All have one modus operandi in common. The girl was given some water or soft drink to drink and after that she does not remember anything.

Once caught, often the defense of the accused is that the girl was a party to the sexual act. The most commonly used drug in such cases is Roofies, a date rape drug.

The use of such “predator” or “date rape drugs” is common inIndia. 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.

Because of the effects of these drugs, victims may be physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and can’t remember what happened. The drugs often have no colour, smell or taste and are easily added to flavoured drinks without the victim’s knowledge.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.