Unfortunately, sexual assailants have tools at their fingertips such as date-rape drugs to incapacitate victims. By sneaking these drugs into a drink, these assailants can cause victims to unwittingly incapacitate themselves. To successfully protect oneself, one must understand date-rape drugs, and take proper precautions.
The three most common forms of date-rape drugs are Rohypnol (Roofies, Rope, Ruffies, R2, Ruffles, Roche, Forget-pill), Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB, Liquid Extacy, Liquid X, Scoop, Easy Lay), and Ketamine Hydrochloride (‘K’, Special K, Vitamin K, Ket).
KidPower.org explains date-rape drugs:
What are date-rape drugs and what do they do?
Date-rape drugs often work quickly, within 10-20 minutes, and are difficult to spot because they have no smell, taste, texture or color. They come in liquid, powder, and pill forms that can be easily added to drinks without someone’s knowledge. The drugs cause victims to become ill, disoriented, very sleepy and unable to move or think clearly, and/or incapable of remembering what happened to them. The effects of the drugs can be intensified by alcohol and can last anywhere from 2-24 hours.
Rapists are using the date rape drugs as a way to overpower their victims. The drugs are, sadly, easily accessible, especially on college campuses and in college towns. Many are legal for other purposes and are therefore readily available and inexpensive. Attackers may bring a person a drink, like a soda, beer, or coffee, and put the drug in it. Or they put the drug in the drink or food while the targeted person is temporarily away from it (i.e. in the bathroom, talking to friends, etc.). Often, when the victim becomes ill or disoriented, the rapist is able to take the victim to a different location easily to commit a sexual assault. The victim wakes up later and is rarely able to remember what happened.
Read the KidPower article on date-rape drugs.
For more information on date rape drugs in the United States, contact the National Women’s Health Information Center at 800-994-9662.
