As a parent, one of my fears is having anything happen to my daughter. I’m sure you feel the same about your children. Date rape drugs scare me, because even if you have the “best” kid in the world, they can be taken advantage of when under the influence of a dangerous drug, and not only that, they can be deadly.
I want to share a segment from Robert L. Parke’s book Staying Safe in an Unsafe World: A Guide for College Women with some additions:
The rape of an intoxicated woman may be a crime of opportunity. The rape of a drugged woman is usually a crime of premeditation. Both are very wrong, and both are felonies.
While the terms “date rape” or “acquaintance rape” are widely used, it is wise to think of this as a “drug-facilitated sexual assault.” That is the primary reason someone will spike your drink with a date rape drug.
General Effects of Drink Spiking
- Unconsciousness
- Decreased inhibitions
- Paralysis
- Inability to protect oneself
- Memory loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle spasms
- Poor coordination
- Feelings of euphoria
- Extreme sleepiness
- Respiratory complications, slurring of speech, and dizziness
What are Drink Spiking “Date Rape” Drugs?
The following is a list of commonly known and used date rape drugs. Becoming familiar with the names and common street names of these drugs is important and could one day save your life or a friend’s. If you hear someone use any of these names other than “alcohol” in a drinking environment, beware! Better yet, LEAVE!
ROHYPNOL Nicknames: Circles, Forget Pills, La Rochas, Lunch Money, Mexican Valium, Mind Erasers, Poor Man’s Quaalude, R-2, Rib, Roach, Roach-2, Roches, Roofies (probably the most common), Roopies, Rope, Rophies, Ruffies, Strip and Fall, and Whiteys. Rohypnol effects can be felt within 30 minutes of being drugged and last for several hours.
The symptoms of the person who has drunk something with Rohypnol in it may include looking and acting like someone who is drunk. She will have trouble standing, her speech will be slurred and she may pass out. The effects of Rohypnol can include nausea, lack of memory as to what happened while drugged, loss of consciousness, confusion, visual difficulties, dizziness, sleepiness, lowered blood pressure, stomach problems, and sometimes even death.
GHB Nicknames: Bedtime Scoop, Cherry Meth, Easy Lay, Energy Drink, G, Gamma-10, Georgia Home Boy, G-Juice, Gook, Goop, Great Hormones, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid E, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X, PM, Salt Water, Soap, Somatomax and Vita-G. GHB takes effect in about 15 minutes and can last 3-4 hours. Traces of GHB disappear from the body in 4 to 5 hours and may be difficult, if not impossible, to detect in the blood or urine after that time. It is extremely potent as an aphrodisiac and a small amount can have a large effect. It is very easy to overdose on it.
The symptoms of GHB include relaxation, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, loss of consciousness, seizures, loss of memory about what happened while drugged, breathing difficulties, tremors, sweating, vomiting, slow heart rate, dreamlike feelings, and sometimes death.
CHLORAL HYDRATE Nicknames: Mickey, Mickey Finn, Knock-Out drops
The symptoms of chloral hydrate ingestion include confusion, convulsions, difficulty swallowing, severe drowsiness, hypothermia, nausea, vomiting, or severe stomach pain, shortness of breath, slow or irregular heartbeat, slurred speech, staggering, severe weakness, and possible death.
“MOLLY” is slang for pure “Ecstasy,” or MDMA. The nickname is said to be short for “molecule.” It is a relatively new compound, but its use is on the rise. The drug’s popularity increased after the performer Madonna went on stage at a concert and shouted to the audience, “How many people in this crowd have seen Molly?”
Molly is extremely dangerous in high doses. It triggers a release of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is the main hormone responsible for pleasure, and is why MDMA is often called the Love Drug. It is what makes users “high.” They feel euphoria, intense physical pleasure, openness, emotional increase, and they may experience mild auditory and visual hallucinations. This drug is sometimes pure, but still dangerous. It may be cut with cheaper or harder drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin, making it even more dangerous. It can easily be mixed with drugs such as GHB. It is commonly mixed with marijuana and alcohol. Mixing drugs in this fashion intensifies the effect and greatly increases the risk of serious injury. Dopamine is also responsible for regulating body temperature, cardiovascular failure. Severe dehydration can result from the combination of the drug’s effects and the crowded and hot conditions in which the drug is often taken. Some young people have literally danced themselves to death.
“EYE DROPS” is not the nickname of a drug such as the ones above, but literally, the contents of the small plastic bottles of eye drops that you buy at the grocery or drug store for relief of eye irritation. When mixed with alcohol, it can cause drowsiness, nausea, amnesia, and many of the other symptoms of date rape drugs. “Eye Drops” have been called the new Rohypnol. They are being used to spike victim’s drinks in nightclubs and at parties, making them easy targets for robbers and rapists.
KETAMINE Nicknames: K, Special K, Vitamin K, Super Acid, Super C, Bump, Cat Valium, Green, Honey Oil, Special la Coke, and Jet. It is an anesthesia, mostly used in veterinary medicine. It has found its place as a club drug and can be in the form of a clear liquid or a white powder. It can cause confusion and disorientation, drowsiness, amnesia, temporary paralysis, and inability to speak. It can produce hallucinations and a feeling of complete sensory detachment that has been described as a near-death experience known as being “in the k-hole.”
ALCOHOL – Along with the other drugs listed above, alcohol must also be considered a “date rape,” “acquaintance rape,” or “drug-assisted sexual assault” drug. It is the one most commonly used in sexual assaults and rapes. Any drug that affects judgment and behavior can put a person at risk for unwanted or risky sexual activity. Alcohol is clearly such a drug. When a person drinks too much alcohol, it’s harder to tell when a situation could be dangerous, it’s harder to say “No” to sexual advances, it’s harder to fight back if sexual assault occurs, and it is possible to black out and to have memory loss. Unless someone has been keeping track of the number of drinks you’ve had, it can be difficult to know if you have alcohol poisoning or if your drinks have been spiked.
How to Guard Against Having Your Drink Spiked
- Don’t accept drinks from other people. Not from anyone.
- If someone offers to get you a drink from the bar or a party, go with that person to order your drink. Watch the drink being poured and carry it yourself.
- Never leave your beverage unattended. Keep it with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom. Cover it with your hand or a napkin if it is on the bar or a table.
- At a pub, bar, or club, accept drinks only from the bartender or server.
- When drinking, keep an eye on your friends and ask them to watch out for you.
- Open beverage containers (cans, bottles) yourself.
- Don’t share drinks.
- Don’t drink from punch bowls or other common open containers, as they may already have drugs in them.
- Don’t drink anything that tastes or smells strange.
- Have a non-drinking friend with you to help make sure nothing happens.
- If you realize you left your drink unattended, pour it out.
- If you or someone else seems extremely intoxicated after drinking only a small amount of alcohol or a non-alcoholic beverage, the drink may have been spiked. Get help, immediately!