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Common
Scenario-
The
perpetrator slips a drug in someone's glass, waits for the
effects to kick in, and offers to assist the victim by "taking
them home." Once passed out, the offender takes advantage
of the unconscious individual.
GHB
and Rohypnol were originally classified as medications,
specifically central nervous system depressants. Doctors
prescribed them as sleep aids and relaxants in very low
dosages.
These
drugs are known to have virtually 10 times the effect of
Valium®, another prescribed depressant, and they are extremely
potent. Mixed with alcohol, a small dose of GHB or Rohypnol
will not only cause unconsciousness for hours, but also
temporarily take away your memory when you come to. As used
in sexual assaults, date rape drugs can make you unconscious
for up to 12 hours.
Fifteen
to 20 minutes after the drug is in your system, these reactions
usually occur (alcohol intensifies the drug's effect): drowsiness
slurred speech blurred vision respiratory problems dizziness.
What's
makes Rohypnol and GHB so dangerous?
They
are virtually impossible to detect: They're tasteless. They're
odorless. They come in liquid, powder, and pill form. They
blend in drinks easily. They metabolize in your system within
approximately 72 hours, which makes them difficult to detect
if you go to the police after the assault.
Drug-facilitated
rape is a crime that can put a violator away for 20 years
and cost him a $250,000 fine, but if the victim does not
remember the incident or doesn't go to the police in time,
proving that a date rape drug was ingested becomes increasingly
difficult.
How
can I prevent date rape drugs from being used on me?
If
you do drink something, watch your drink like a hawk. Try
to hold it at all times. Don't leave your drink unattended.
Don't trust anyone with your drink. You should note
that in some cases, even the bartender could be in on drugging
someone. Always go with a buddy you can trust in case things
go wrong. If you feel uncharacteristically dizzy and/or
disoriented, get help immediately.
The
original manufacturer of Rohypnol, Hoffman-LaRoche Inc.,
a pharmaceutical company, has taken extra measures to prevent
this drug from being abused by making it easier to spot.
The company increased its dissolving time to 45 minutes,
made it form a chalky white film floating on the top of
liquid, and caused it to turn drinks a blue color.
Regardless,
old pills are still around for consumption, and many pharmaceutical
companies that have produced a bootleg version of Rohypnol
have not adopted the new precautions Hoffman-LaRoche has
taken.
What
should I do if I have been drugged and sexually assaulted?
Call
a family member, friend, the police, a doctor, or 911 to
help get you to a hospital.
Once
you're at a safe place, you call a rape crisis center like
RAINN at 1-800-656-HOPE.
If you
want to report the incident to the police, don't shower,
bathe, douche, change clothes, or straighten up the area
until the evidence can be collected. Go to a hospital, clinic,
or private doctor for treatment of injuries, tests for pregnancy
and sexually transmitted infections, and support services.
Ask for a urine test as quickly as possible to detect the
presence of sedating substances. Every hour counts to get
the proof you need.
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The
3 Main
Date Rape Drugs Are:
Rohypnol
Street
Names-
Rophy,
Ruffles, Roofies, Ruffies, Ruff Up, Rib, Roach 2, R2, R2-Do-U,
Roche, Rope, Ropies, Circles, Circes, Forget It, Forget-Me-pill,
Mexican Valium.
What
Are The Effects?
The
most common effects include; disinhibition, amnesia, excitability,
aggressive behavior, decreased blood pressure, memory impairment,
drowsiness, visual disturbances, semi-consciousness, dizziness,
confusion, stomach disturbances, and urinary retention.
How
Quickly Does It Act?
It
is quick acting, with noticeable effects occurring within
20 minutes of ingestion. Alcohol makes the effects last
longer, up to 36 hours. After ingestion it can be found
in the blood stream for 24 hours and in urine samples for
48 hours.
What
Does It Look Like?
The
pills are small and white with a split-pill line on one
side and the word "ROCHE" with the number 1 or 2 in a circle
stamped on the other. They are quickly dissolved in liquid
especially when crushed first.
Gamma
Hydroxy Butyrate
(GHB)
Street Names-
Easy
Lay, EZ Lay, Liquid Ecstasy, Ellie, Clear X, Liquid X, X-rater,
XTC, Chemical X, Liquid Dream, Scoop, Scoop Her, Get-Her-to-Bed.
How
Quickly Does It Act?
GHB
begins to take effect 10 - 15 minutes after ingestion. The
effects last for 3 - 6 hours when taken without alcohol
and 36 - 72 hours when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.
In very high dosages unconsciousness, or even coma, can
occur within 5 minutes.
What
Does It Look Like?
It
looks exactly like water.
Ketamine
Hydrochloride
Street
Names-
Special
K, Super K, K, OK, KO, Vitamin K, Kid Rock, Ket Kat, Make-Her-Mine.
What
are the effects?
The
most common effects include; delirium, vivid hallucinations,
cardiac excitement, mild respiratory depression, confusion,
irrationality, violent or aggressive behavior, vertigo,
ataxia, slurred speech, delayed reaction time, euphoria,
thinking, altered body image, analgesia, amnesia, and coma.
How
Quickly Does It Act?
This
depends on how it is ingested. When taken orally or nasally
the effects take 10 - 20 minutes to be realized. When taken
intravenously the effects are instantaneous. The effects
last less than 3 hours and the drug is detectable in the
system up to 48 hours depending on the method of ingestion.
Since it is often mixed with other mind-altering drugs,
like heroin and cocaine, many people do not ever realize
they have been given this substance.
What
Does It Look Like?
In
undiluted form it looks like an off-white powder, in diluted
form it looks like slightly cloudy water.
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Date
Rape Drugs
