Rape Drugs aka Date Rape Drugs - title

Written by Krista

How Can You Protect Yourself from Being a Victim of a Date Rape Drug?" />

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

The introduction of date rape drugs into mainstream culture has put a very powerful weapon in the hands of sexual predators. Rapes can be easily committed behind a foggy haze of intoxication often leaving the rape victim oblivious to the fact they have been assaulted. It is a frightening thought that begs the question: "What, if anything, can be done to stop a person from falling victim to a rape using a date rape drug?" There are some simple behavior modifications you can make to ensure that you do not fall prey to a rapist armed with a date rape drug. To protect yourself always follow these simple rules:

• Don't accept drinks from other people.
• Open containers yourself.
• Keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom.
• Don't share drinks.
• Don't drink from punch bowls or other large, common, open containers. They may already have drugs in them.

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• Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange. Sometimes, Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB) tastes salty.
• Have a non-drinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens.
• Keep your eyes and ears open; if there is talk of date rape drugs or if friends seem "too intoxicated" for what they have taken, leave the party or club immediately and don't go back!

If these behavior modifications don't feel like enough protection, or if you don't think you can follow these rules on a given night, you do have another option. There is a new defense against date rape drugs that has recently been approved for use in North America; it is a simple and inexpensive test kit that can be used to detect the presence of date rape drugs in drinks. The so-called "Drink Safe Technology" is actually a package of drink testing strips or coasters that work like those litmus paper strips you use in chemistry class. The strips and coasters change color when they come in contact with a date rape drug. The strips fit in your purse or pocket and can be used quickly and discretely. To find out more about "Drink Safe" visit the website at http://www.drinksafetech.com.

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. Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate (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.
• You also can call a crisis center or a hotline to talk with a counselor. One national hotline is the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or 800-787-3224 (TDD). Feelings of shame, guilt, fear and shock are normal. It is important to get counseling from a trusted professional.

GHB (Gammahydroxybutyrate)

GHB is used in some countries as a general anesthetic, treatment for insomnia, treatment for alcoholism, an aid in childbirth by increasing the strength of contractions and decrease in pain, and assists in dilation of cervix.

The street names for GHB are: 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.

GHB is an odorless, colorless, liquid that acts on the central nervous system as a depressant/anesthesia. It looks exactly like water. It was banned in the United States in 1990 under the Samantha Reid Date-Rape Prohibition Act of 2000. It is also illegal in Canada and many parts of Europe. It is not produced or manufactured by any pharmaceutical company; instead it is made in illegal drug labs or by amateur chemists in their homes. It can be easily made with common and readily available ingredients and novice chemistry skills and the recipe is easy to find. Making, possessing and/or using this drug is illegal.

GHB is used as a recreational drug often at Rave parties and offers an alcohol and hangover free high

GHB can cause these problems:

• euphoria
• amnesia
• intoxication
• dizziness
• visual hallucinations
• enhances state of relaxation, desire, enjoyment, and decreases inhibitions
• problems seeing
• unconsciousness (black out)
• problems breathing
• dream-like feeling
• coma
• death

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.