teenage sex

Rape Drugs
aka Date Rape Drugs

cont. from

How do you know if someone has used a date rape drug on you?

It is difficult, but not impossible to know. First, there are some very clear signs that sexual activity has taken place even if you have no memory of actually "doing it." (It is important to note here that if you have had sex but can not remember doing it or offering consent you have been raped under the law, whether a date rape drug has been used or not.) Signs that a sexual assault has taken place can include; soreness or bruising in the genital area, soreness or bruising in the anal area, bruising on the inner and/or outer thighs, bruising on the wrists and forearms, defensive bruising or scratching (the kind that would occur during a struggle), used condoms near you or in nearby garbage containers, and traces of semen or vaginal fluids on clothes, body or nearby furniture.

Since people who have been slipped a date rape drug appear to others to be very intoxicated, an extremely reliable sign that you have been raped using a date rape drug is gossip from others about your behavior or the behavior of those around you. Aside from indications of sexual activity, other clues that a date rape drug may have been given to you include:

• feeling "hung-over" despite having ingested little or no alcohol
• a sense of having had hallucinations or very "real" dreams
• fleeting memories of feeling or acting intoxicated despite having taken no drugs or drinking no alcohol
• no clear memory of events during an 8 to 24 hour period with no known reason for the memory lapse
• and stories from others about how intoxicated you seemed at a time when you know you had taken no drugs, medications or alcohol

Short of being told that you have been given a date rape drug, there is no way to be sure without medical testing. If you suspect that you have been given a date rape drug you need to get to a hospital quickly and you must request that you be properly tested. The drugs can be found in your system if you act quickly. If you suspect that you have been raped using any one of these drugs go to a hospital and request a preliminary rape exam with testing for date rape drugs. This is the only way to know for sure.

How can you protect yourself from being a victim of a date rape drug?

Last updated: 8/05

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