We often hear of cases of alleged rapes. The girl
was given some drink following which she had no recall of what happened. Once
caught, often the defense of the accused is that the girl was a party to the
sexual act. Such cases are the result of date rape drugs, used to spike
soft drinks or alcoholic drinks. Their use is common.
Although alcohol, marijuana, ecstasy,
over-the-counter sleeping pills and anti-histamines, even cold medications can
be used, the term “date rape drug” classically applies to any of the three
drugs: GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid), Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), popularly
called “Roofies” and ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride). Rohypnol is legal in
Europe and Mexico, but is banned in the US and India.
In 2013, ketamine hydrochloride was shifted from
Schedule H to Schedule X of the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules to prevent its easy
availability and misuse. It has been listed as psychotropic substance under the
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act
Several factors make these drugs desirable to
sexual predators. They often have no color, smell or taste and so can be easily
slipped into drinks and food without the victim’s knowledge. They are very fast
acting; as all traces of the drugs leave the body within 72 hours of intake,
they are not found in any routine toxicology screen or blood test.
The victim is rendered unconscious but responsive
with little or no memory of what happens while the drug is active in their
system. The drugs also make the person act without inhibition. They are
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 is unable to refuse and will have no clear memory of what
happened, the assailant, or the events surrounding the assault. 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.
Here are a few tips to protect from date rape.
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 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.
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma
Shri Awardee
President
Elect Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)
Group
Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President
Heart Care Foundation of India
Past
National President IMA
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