MSP - Rape Drug Awareness

Because some drugs are colorless, tasteless, and odorless, individuals who want to intoxicate or sedate others can add them to beverages. In recent years, there has been an increase in reports of certain drugs used to commit sexual assaults.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that over 430,000 people in this country are victimized by sexual assault each year; and three out of four victims are acquainted with their attackers. Many of the women who report being raped by an acquaintance also report unusual symptoms such as black-outs and hazy or no memories surrounding the attacks. The growing popularity of ‘rape drugs’ like Rohypnol, GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate), or Ketamine as tools of submission among sexual offenders accounts for much of the complexity surrounding these cases.

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate is a central nervous system depressant that has been rejected by the medical community as having any useful purpose. The greatest concern about this clear, odorless and virtually tasteless liquid is abuse by individuals who put it in unsuspecting women’s drinks for the purpose of sexual assault, often placing their victim’s life at risk during the assault.

In 1997, two California men were convicted of over fifty counts of sexual assault for drugging women with GHB at ‘Raves Parties’ and nightclubs over a two-year period. Many of the victims were unaware they had been assaulted until they identified themselves in photographs that had been seized by law enforcement officials.

Drug-facilitated rape has occurred more frequently in recent years. Although the tasteless drugs are hard to detect, there are precautionary steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of this crime.

A person experiencing GHB ingestion / withdrawal, could exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

Symptoms may occur from onset (5 – 15 minutes) through recovery (3 – 12 days).

In large doses, GHB can cause seizures, respiratory depression, permanent coma, and death.

During the last 10 years, law enforcement agencies, hospital emergency rooms, poison control centers, and others have observed an alarming increase in the popularity of some very dangerous substances known collectively as "Club Drugs." This term refers to drugs being used by young adults at all-night dance parties, known as "Raves."

The use of Club Drugs can cause serious health problems and, in some cases, even death. Used in combination with alcohol, these drugs can be even more dangerous. In addition, uncertainties about the drug sources, pharmacological agents, chemicals used to manufacture them and possible contaminants make it difficult to determine toxicity, consequences, and symptoms that might occur.

THE MOST POPULAR CLUB DRUG
"ECSTASY" (MDMA)

Ecstasy is the most popular club drug, known as the ‘hug drug’, because it lowers sexual inhibitions. It can cause severe dehydration, sleep disturbances, hypertension, as well as memory loss and brain damage. An overdose can cause a significant increase in body temperature (malignant hyperthermia) leading to a cardiovascular system failure and death from stroke or heart attack.

An article in the November issue of Jane magazine stated that a girl died from drinking too much water while high on ecstasy. Too much water can cause the brain to swell and press on the brain stem, killing the victim.

WHAT IS A "RAVE PARTY?"

"Rave Parties", also known as "Raves", are 12-hour dance parties. Once found only in big city abandoned warehouses, Raves are becoming more mainstream. They often take place at dance clubs for teens and are advertised as drug and alcohol free parties.

Users of club drugs needlessly expose themselves to potential date-rape situations, increased use of other drugs, unprotected sex, as well as physical and mental harm.